Donald Trump Prioritizes Macron and Netanyahu Over Keir Starmer's Call

After defeating Kamala Harris in the 2024 US Presidential Election, Donald Trump conducted several significant diplomatic calls on November 6, 2024. He spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before contacting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called Trump two hours later. During these calls, important topics such as the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East were discussed, and warm relations were reaffirmed between Trump and both Macron and Netanyahu. Starmer's belated conversation with Trump followed a backdrop of tension between the Labour leadership and Trump's camp, marked by critical comments from several Labour MPs about the former US President. Despite initial criticism towards Trump, Starmer attempted to portray cordiality by congratulating Trump on his victory, expressing his eagerness to work closely with the President-elect on matters of mutual interest. This sequence of calls has intensified discussions about the so-called 'special relationship' between the UK and the US, raising concern for Starmer as he faces pressure to catch up diplomatically. Critics within the UK political sphere, including members of the Labour Party, have pointed to his late outreach as detrimental, suggesting that it might reflect poorly on Starmer’s leadership and his ability to engage with international counterparts. The overall scenario signifies that the Labour Party will need to recalibrate its approach in light of Trump’s significant political comeback and the changing dynamics in international relations.