Britain has been handed a massive Brexit boost after Donald Trump vowed to clobber the EU with 25% import tariffs.
The US president took revenge on the bloc after saying it was formed in order to “screw the United States”.
Mr Trump’s hammerblow came after Sir Keir Starmer suggested being outside the EU could benefit Britain in its relationship with the Trump administration.
Asked by the Daily Express if Brexit is his “trump card”, Sir Keir said Britain would continue to act as a “bridge” between the US and Europe.
Speaking en route to Washington, where he is due to hold high-stakes talks with the Republican strongman, Sir Keir said: “When it comes to defence and security, we have for decades acted as a bridge because of the special relationship we have with the US and also our allegiance to our European allies.
“That’s been there before Brexit. It survives Brexit, and it is really important, because the special relationship is huge.
“So that sort of sitting as being able to be a bridge between the US and Europe has been in place for decades and I think it should continue in place.”
Sir Keir insisted Mr Trump is on the same side at the UK when it comes to securing lasting peace in Ukraine.
The Prime Minister vowed “there’s no issue between us” despite America’s split with its European allies when it refused to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin’s chief henchman, Sergei Lavrov, has also accused the UK and France of fuelling the war by pushing for a peacekeeping force in the country in the event of a peace deal.
But speaking to reporters enroute to Washington DC, the Prime Minister insisted he and Mr Trump are united despite America siding with Russia in a UN vote this week.
And he hit out at Larov’s comments, insisting the Kremlin is to blame for the conflict which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
“There’s one aggressor here and that’s Russia,” he said.
“They have invaded and occupied a sovereign country in Europe, and they bear full responsibility for the conflict.”
Pressed on whether Mr Trump shares the same view, he added: “Of course, the president has been very clear about the peace that he wants.
“There’s no issue between us on this.”
He also suggested British “peacekeeping” troops could be deployed to Ukraine to stop Putin trying to invade the country again after any peace deal.
“I want a lasting peace, and I don’t think that will happen if there isn’t an effective deterrence to Putin,” he said.
“The UK will play its part in that with others but we need a US backstop. Because I don’t think there will be a deterrent to Putin if we don’t have one”.
Sir Keir’s talks with the US president come amid an ongoing row about defence spending.
The PM claims he will boost Britain’s military might with a £13.4billion-a-year hike from 2027.
Read more via The Daily Express