Trump then belittled the role played by UK troops in Afghanistan, even though 457 British soldiers were killed during the mission, drawing a sharp response from British prime minister Keir Starmer. The UK must accept that the relationship it has with the US is now entirely transactional. As Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, has pointed out, the world is becoming a more dangerous place for mid-sized powers. Trump’s weaponisation of trade also makes the case for the UK to rejoin the EU Single Market. Discussion are already underway for closer UK alignment with the EU in agriculture and energy.

Source: The Irish Times February 02, 2026 23:03 UTC