Prime Minister Keir Starmer wore a broad smile aboard the plane home from Washington. He landed back in Britain on Friday with the satisfaction of a tricky mission not quite accomplished, but off to a flying start.

Peter Mandelson, the new U.K. ambassador to the U.S., is leading Britain’s latest charm offensive towards Trump

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer was flying to Washington on Wednesday after announcing a big increase in the British defense budget, an investment that he hopes will help persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to maintain support for Ukraine as Washington pushes to end the war.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there is “value” in an agreement that President Donald Trump is pursuing on Ukrainian mineral rights to repay some of the $500 billion in military aid that the U.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday he would increase annual defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and target a 3% level last seen just after the Cold War, a signal to U.S. President Donald Trump that Britain can boost Europe's security.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy attend a welcome reception at the Britain's ambassador's residence on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Carl Co

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, center, and Palantir Technologies CEO Alex Karp, right, tour Palantir headquarters Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Washington. (/Pool Photo via AP)

The meeting between Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Washington on Thursday resulted in an “unprecedented” invitation to the US president from Britain’s King Charles III. But what was actually in the letter that Starmer handed over?

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday European leaders had agreed to draw up a Ukraine peace plan to present to the United States, a vital step for Washington to be able to offer security guarantees that Kyiv says are essential to deter Russia.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a joint press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump in the East Room at the White House Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Washington.

The prime minister announced the increase in defence spending days before meeting US President Donald Trump in Washington.