The Ukraine war is Europe’s problem, Trump’s ally tells Labour

Biden has provided US military aid for the war but could lose power in the November presidential election. Trump has instead promised to limit support and end the war through negotiations with Russia “within a day”.

Colby, who served in the Pentagon during Trump’s first term, is one of several Trump allies who have held talks with the Labour Party about US-UK cooperation should the former president come to power for a second time.

“The most important issue on the agenda of European states should be: Do you take primary responsibility for NATO’s conventional defense in Europe?” he said.

“You need to take better care of your own situation because we need to focus on China.”

He said Britain should pursue a “Britain First” strategy focused on European security and abandon its “bias” towards the Indo-Pacific region.

“Britain is based in Europe and therefore has a stronger presence there. And that is precisely where there is a gap in the overall American-led order of military capability,” he said.

“There is realistically very little the British military can do in the Pacific or beyond at the moment.”

“Labor has a cautious view of American power”

Mr Colby said the Labour Party had been more willing than Rishi Sunak’s government to accept Trump’s plan to reduce American involvement in Ukraine.

Former Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron was criticised by Republicans in April after he visited Washington to ask Congress to agree to more military support for Kiev.

“I am sure (Labor) will stand up for Ukraine, but the spirit they exude is one of greater understanding of a more moderate view of American power and American intervention,” he said.

“That means understanding the American people where they are, as opposed to what I’ve heard from David Cameron and others, which has been more of a political tirade.”

Other NATO countries expressed skepticism about whether they could fill the gap in military support for Ukraine if Trump withdrew American aid.

“Americans are fed up with British demands”

The US is by far the largest contributor to Ukraine’s defence, spending £62.5 billion on the war since 2022, compared to £86.2 billion from all European countries combined.

But Colby said Americans were tired of hearing constant demands from British politicians on Ukraine, including in light of the recent funding bill, which is called an “amendment.”

“I would much rather the United States deal with a practical, sober, realistic, serious and Europe-focused United Kingdom from a defence point of view than one that gets involved in the debate about additional weapons, pressures us to supply Storm Shadow (missiles) and then only gives us three billion pounds a year,” he said.

“It’s basically writing checks for the American people to cash.”

Sir Keir has said he will work with any US government, including one under Trump, but hinted that he hopes for a Biden election victory in November.

In a commentary for The Telegraph on Monday, Messrs Lammy and Healey said Labour would pursue a “Nato-first” defence strategy and “reset” defence relations with Europe.