Global politics has a way of turning friendly alliances into awkward balancing acts, and this week was a textbook example.
While leaders talk up unity against Donald Trump’s confrontational worldview, reality looks messier on the ground.
Keir Starmer found himself doing some careful footwork after the US president lashed out over Western countries deepening their ties with China — and in the process, Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney appeared to be left holding the bag.
Starmer Distances Britain From Trump’s Anger
During a visit to Shanghai, Sir Keir was pressed on Trump’s sharp criticism of Western engagement with Beijing.
His response was blunt but diplomatic: Trump’s anger, he said, was aimed squarely at Canada, not the UK.
According to the prime minister, the US president was reacting more to Ottawa’s China strategy than to anything London is doing.
That framing effectively shielded Britain while leaving Canada exposed, prompting raised eyebrows about how solid this supposed show of solidarity really is.
Trump’s Warning on China and Canada
Trump’s comments came after questions about Starmer’s lengthy talks with Chinese president Xi Jinping, which resulted in reduced whisky tariffs and visa-free travel for British tourists and business visitors.
Asked what he thought of the UK “getting into business with China,” Trump didn’t mince words, calling it “very dangerous.”
He went further when Canada entered the conversation, accusing Ottawa of heading down an even riskier path by exploring closer economic ties with Beijing.
Trump warned that if Canada pursued a free trade agreement with China, the US could respond with punishing 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports.
Despite the harsh rhetoric, Trump also struck a familiar personal note, reminding reporters that President Xi is “a friend of mine” and confirming plans to visit China himself later this year.
Canada Caught in the Crossfire
Mark Carney’s position has become increasingly delicate.
Earlier this month, he travelled to China to explore deeper economic cooperation, with both sides agreeing in principle to cut tariffs on selected goods.
Although Trump initially sounded supportive, that tone quickly shifted to threats once the idea of a broader trade deal surfaced.
Carney has denied pursuing a full free trade agreement with China, but tensions escalated further after Trump floated the idea of using economic pressure — and even military force — to seize Greenland from Denmark.
That episode prompted Carney to deliver a pointed speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, urging mid-sized nations to band together in defence of the global rules-based system — remarks widely seen as a thinly veiled rebuke of Trump.
Starmer Plays Down Any Rift With Washington
Facing cameras in China, Sir Keir tried to calm the waters.
He acknowledged Trump’s remarks but stressed that the US and UK remain “very close allies.”
According to the prime minister, Washington had been fully briefed on the objectives of his China trip in advance, and he pointed to Trump’s own planned visit to Beijing as proof that engagement with China is hardly taboo.
Starmer also reminded reporters of the deep ties between London and Washington, particularly on defence, intelligence and trade, and referenced Trump’s recent state visit to the UK, which he said helped unlock hundreds of billions of pounds in mutual investment.
Trade Minister Takes a Sharper Line
While the prime minister struck a careful tone, trade minister Chris Bryant was far less restrained.
Making the broadcast rounds back home, he flatly said Trump was “wrong” and argued that refusing to engage with China would be “absolutely bonkers.”
Bryant acknowledged the need for caution, saying Britain must approach China with its “eyes wide open” and challenge Beijing where disagreements exist.
Still, he stressed an unavoidable reality: China is the world’s second-largest economy and the UK’s fourth-biggest export market. Walking away, he argued, simply isn’t realistic.
Limited Wins From a Long Trip
Despite the hype surrounding Starmer’s visit to Beijing — billed in advance as potentially “history-making” — the concrete gains were modest.
Britain secured a halving of tariffs on whisky exports and the removal of short-stay visa requirements, perks already enjoyed by citizens of around 50 other countries, including France and Germany.
On more sensitive issues, progress was thin.
There was no commitment from China to release jailed British democracy activist Jimmy Lai, no movement on lifting sanctions imposed on UK MPs and peers critical of Beijing’s human rights record, and no sign that Starmer persuaded Xi to withdraw support for Russia over Ukraine.
Questions Left Unanswered on Security Concerns
Downing Street stayed tight-lipped on whether Starmer raised allegations of Chinese intelligence services attempting to infiltrate Parliament or hack the phones of aides to former Conservative prime ministers.
Critics were quick to revive the unflattering nickname “Kowtow Keir,” especially after the government signalled openness to allowing China to build a large new embassy in London.
Adding fuel to the fire, No 10 also left the door open to a future UK visit by President Xi — his first since the “golden era” of Sino-British relations under David Cameron a decade ago.
Parliament Pushes Back on Xi Visit
That suggestion has already met resistance.
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle made it clear that Xi would not be allowed to address Parliament while sanctions against British MPs remain in place.
As he put it, allowing Xi into MPs’ workplace under those conditions would be wrong.
Pressed on the issue, Chris Bryant looked visibly uneasy, repeatedly emphasising collective cabinet responsibility while insisting that all security and human rights concerns would weigh heavily in any future discussions.
Walking the Line Between Beijing and Washington
Before leaving for China, Starmer was asked directly whether the trip risked irritating the White House.
His answer was confident: the UK’s relationship with the US, he said, is among the closest it has, spanning defence, security, intelligence and trade.
Behind the scenes, government sources insist Washington knew exactly what London hoped to achieve in Beijing.
Even so, Trump’s comments — and Starmer’s decision to deflect them toward Canada — underline just how tricky this geopolitical balancing act has become.
What Comes Next?
With Trump turning up the pressure, Canada feeling the heat, and Britain trying to keep both Washington and Beijing onside, the question now is how long this careful dance can last.
At some point, allies may be forced to choose where they stand — and that moment could arrive sooner than anyone in Downing Street would like.
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