President Joe Biden welcomed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the White House on Friday afternoon for a meeting focused on a range of pressing global issues. After a tour of the Rose Garden, the two leaders convened in the Blue Room, where they sat at a long rectangular table with their respective delegations. While Ukraine was the central topic of discussion, the conversation also delved into other significant matters, including the Middle East, China, and Iran.
Downing Street had previously emphasized that this meeting would offer a deeper level of engagement than typical international summits, allowing for more in-depth conversations. The UK has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine’s request to receive Western missiles, a request that has generated significant debate and concern. However, President Biden has expressed reservations about supplying these weapons, fearing that it could escalate the conflict and lead to a direct confrontation between the US, Europe, and Russia.
This concern stems from recent pronouncements by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has hinted at the possibility of a direct military conflict with the West. While Putin’s past threats have often been viewed as bluster, the current situation has raised anxieties about a more significant escalation. Diplomatic and intelligence efforts are now focused on understanding Putin’s motivations and predicting his potential actions.
The primary concern is whether Putin might resort to a military strike against a NATO member state, potentially drawing the entire Western alliance into a war with Russia. Alternatively, there is concern that Ukraine’s allies might not tolerate lower-level retaliatory actions, such as cyber attacks or sabotage of undersea communication cables.
The meeting between Biden and Starmer is unlikely to resolve the debate surrounding Western missiles, particularly given the expectation of further discussions at the United Nations. This meeting serves as a reminder of the delicate balance that the international community is navigating in the face of the Ukraine crisis and the complex geopolitical landscape.
