Nish Kumar

But the very fact that the peace talks happened with Russia and they happened in Saudi Arabia should be a clue to where Trump sees American alignment. America is no longer aligning itself with Europe. It is aligned with these kind of despotic, ethno-nationalist states. He has much more in common

in terms of his outlook on domestic and foreign policy with Mohammed bin Salman, with Vladimir Putin and with Benjamin Netanyahu.

in terms of his outlook on domestic and foreign policy with Mohammed bin Salman, with Vladimir Putin and with Benjamin Netanyahu.

Yeah, I mean, Starman needs to look at who Trump is and what he has done. It feels like he's trying to do a deal with somebody that has no interest in doing a deal with him. And as if to underscore this idea that America is no longer aligned with the UK and Europe, J.D.

Yeah, I mean, Starman needs to look at who Trump is and what he has done. It feels like he's trying to do a deal with somebody that has no interest in doing a deal with him. And as if to underscore this idea that America is no longer aligned with the UK and Europe, J.D.

Vance launched a barrage of criticism towards the continent and our country last week at the Munich Security Conference, suggesting that European values suppress free speech and questioning whether our values are worth defending. Here's a clip from the man who is, let's be clear, the Vice President of America.

Vance launched a barrage of criticism towards the continent and our country last week at the Munich Security Conference, suggesting that European values suppress free speech and questioning whether our values are worth defending. Here's a clip from the man who is, let's be clear, the Vice President of America.

I think this is an incredibly precarious moment for him because he's really stressing this idea, you know, our whole government's domestic growth agenda is tied up in our trading relationships with the United States. And I think it's an unenviable position to find yourself in, to have snookered yourself effectively to having to deal with Donald Trump.

I think this is an incredibly precarious moment for him because he's really stressing this idea, you know, our whole government's domestic growth agenda is tied up in our trading relationships with the United States. And I think it's an unenviable position to find yourself in, to have snookered yourself effectively to having to deal with Donald Trump.

I will say that domestically, in terms of this phrase about boots on the ground, I if it were to be put to a parliamentary vote, I don't suspect domestically he would face a huge amount of opposition to that. I think there would be political pressure on him to not do that.

I will say that domestically, in terms of this phrase about boots on the ground, I if it were to be put to a parliamentary vote, I don't suspect domestically he would face a huge amount of opposition to that. I think there would be political pressure on him to not do that.

But I think given that the former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has already backed Starmer's plans, I'm not sure that there would be a huge amount of opposition internally to it.

But I think given that the former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has already backed Starmer's plans, I'm not sure that there would be a huge amount of opposition internally to it.

I think you're exactly right to point that out, because at the same time as European leaders gathered in Paris to respond to Trump's actions, shares in major arms manufacturers soared. BAE Systems, the UK's largest defence company, saw its stock climb 9% in London. In Paris, tails jumped 7.8%, while Rheinmetall surged 14% in Frankfurt.

I think you're exactly right to point that out, because at the same time as European leaders gathered in Paris to respond to Trump's actions, shares in major arms manufacturers soared. BAE Systems, the UK's largest defence company, saw its stock climb 9% in London. In Paris, tails jumped 7.8%, while Rheinmetall surged 14% in Frankfurt.

The StockX and European Aerospace and Defense Index hit its highest level since the early 1990s. So investors are certainly seeking to capitalize on this period of geopolitical instability.

The StockX and European Aerospace and Defense Index hit its highest level since the early 1990s. So investors are certainly seeking to capitalize on this period of geopolitical instability.

And it therefore follows that from an American perspective, whilst Trump may not have any interest in being part of any peacekeeping in the continent, he's certainly very, very happy, as you point out, to sell us weapons.

And it therefore follows that from an American perspective, whilst Trump may not have any interest in being part of any peacekeeping in the continent, he's certainly very, very happy, as you point out, to sell us weapons.

Look, if you're following the latest on Starmer's Ukraine boots on the ground comment and the European informal summit, you won't want to miss this week's Pod Save the World. They're breaking down the start of the US-Russia negotiations, which happened without Ukraine at the table, the Trump era shift in US foreign policy and what it all means for Europe.