Keir Starmer has lost the race to become the first European leader to visit Donald Trump in the White House, it was unveiled last night.
The prime minister is second in the French Emmanuel Macron, who will see the president three days before him.
The White House confirmed last night that the Labor leader will meet Mr Trump next Thursday, after the French president will visit him on Monday.
It comes as a blow to No 10 who would like to position Sir Keir as a bridge between the US and Europe on defense and trade.
The prime minister also wants to act as a peacemaker between the US and Ukraine, but was told yesterday that he will have to show some dedication for the expenditure for defense during his first trip to Washington since the inauguration.
Sir Keir has so far refused to say when the financing for the armed forces will reach 2.5 percent of GDP, with an announcement that has been planned for spring for a long time.
But he has come under pressure to accelerate the decision since the dramatic events of the past week, when the US warned Europe, the lake of the burden for its safety has to be asked and Sir Keir has requested the prospect of British troops that serve as peace force In Ukraine.
And it is thought that he can finally reveal his timetable during crucial conversations with Mr. Trump next week.
Keir Starmer (left) was beaten in the race to become the first European leader to visit Donald Trump in the White House, winning with Emmanuel Macron (right)
President Trump (left) will meet Macron (right) on Monday 24 February, while Starmer has to wait until 27th
Former British ambassador in the US Lord Darroch urged the prime minister to make an announcement about military financing and said that it was 'essential' for him to create the subject with Mr. Trump, who wants NATO to -Members up to 5 percent of GDP spend on defense.
Lord Darroch told the BBC Radio 4's Program yesterday: “I hope he would go with at least the strongest possible language he has about increasing British defense issues.”
He said that Sir Keir should also tell the president: 'Others think the same in Europe as we do, that the expenditure for defense should rise, that we can no longer rely on America to offer and pay for defense, that the era of Pax Americana is over. '
Lord Darroch, who also served as a national security adviser between 2012 and 2015 as Nr.
It was reported yesterday that Sir Keir will soon be able to announce the expenditure of the defense – currently at 2.3 percent of GDP or £ 54 billion a year – will reach the milestone of 2.5 percent in 2030.
According to the London Standard, he can even go further and say that he wants the figure to reach 3 percent by 2035.
NATO Currently revised his benchmark for all members from 2 percent to more than 3 percent.
So far, Labor has not said that it will raise the extra money that is needed to achieve the existing target.
Trump (photo) will meet Keir Starmer next week, where the prime minister is expected to draw up his plans to commit Defense outputs
When the Tories promised to reach 2.5 percent by 2030 during last year's election campaign, they said it would mean that it would spend £ 87 billion a year by the end of the decade. But the Chancellor insisted yesterday that she was 'absolutely dedicated' to reach the target.
Rachel Reeves spoke with broadcasters in Warner Bros Studios near Watford and said: 'The world has changed in recent months and we are committed to play our role in protecting our British national security and also to protect the security of Europe .
'Given this changed international environment in which we are active, we will explain that path to reach 2.5 percent of GDP. We will do it in the right way, but nobody would doubt about my dedication to spend 2.5 percent of GDP in defense. '
And another cabinet minister yesterday suggested that Sir Keir would try to put an end to the escalating words war between the US and Kyiv when he goes to Washington.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said Times Radio: 'We are optimistic that despite all the heat and the increased temperatures of the last days, who had discussions with Europeans last night and with President Trump next week, President Zensky, that President Trump next week, that The following week Prime Minister will be able to take the heat and bring parties around the table and ensure that we get the solution we need to defend Ukraine. '
But the vice -president of Mr. Trump has said that he will repeat the delegation of Sir Keir, his devastating criticism of Europe and Great -Britain for leaving freedom of expression, last week for the first time at the Munich Security Conference.
JD Vance told the National Pulse website: 'We will certainly do that. We simply tell them that they should respect the values on which our civilization was established, that you should debate together, you would, you know, you should respect your government when people have a different position. '
