Keir Starmer will join President Emmanuel Macron in Paris for France's Armistice Day service today in a pointed show of European solidarity after Donald Trump's re-election, with Ukraine and defence on the agenda for private talks between the two leaders.
The visit will have a symbolic element with Starmer becoming the first British leader to attend France's national commemoration event since Winston Churchill was hosted in 1944. But No 10 and the Élysée palace are said to be hoping it will also be a significant European moment for France and the UK, two leading Nato powers, amid fears on the continent for the future of the alliance after Trump's re-election.
The prime minister was to fly to Paris early today to attend the event with French and British veterans to mark the 80th anniversary of the start of the liberation of France.
No 10 said talks between the two leaders would "reflect on the close bonds between the two countries, many forged and cemented by the sacrifice of British and French soldiers on the frontline".
Though Trump's election was not a formal part of the pre-agenda for discussion, No 10 said they would discuss Ukraine and Gaza.
Whitehall officials have been tasked with examining how Trump's victory will affect the final shape of the strategic defence review (SDR) due in spring. Starmer and the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, are understood to be planning to set out a path in advance of that deadline on how the UK can reach the 2.5% of GDP defence spending target for Nato member states.
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