Britain's Starmer plans US visit with tariffs and defence in focus

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has discussed visiting the United States on a call with Donald Trump, part of London's efforts to press its case with a U.S. president whose overhaul of trade and foreign policy has shaken much of the world.

Starmer took a call from Trump on Thursday as he met the president's envoy in London, Mark Burnett. His Downing Street office said the two men discussed "his forthcoming visit to the U.S.".

British prime ministers are always keen to visit incoming U.S. presidents as soon as possible, believing that their countries have a "special relationship".

Since returning to power, Trump has sent shockwaves through global capitals by threatening or imposing sweeping tariffs, and by speaking directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin about an end to the war in Ukraine.

Britain has so far been spared the worst of Trump's anger. Trump has heavily criticised the European Union's trade surplus with the U.S. but said this month he thought something could be "worked out" with Britain.

But tensions could develop over Washington's approach to Ukraine. Starmer said on Friday that Britain remained committed to Ukraine being on "an irreversible path to NATO" after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that NATO membership for Kyiv would not be part of a peace deal.

And Britain wants Kyiv, trying to resist Russian invasion, at the heart of any ceasefire talks.

Starmer has also been walking a diplomatic tightrope as he seeks a "reset" in relations with the EU, which Britain quit five years ago, just as Trump threatens the bloc with tariffs and criticises it on several fronts.

Another area of possible contention is defence, where Trump has urged NATO's European members to spend much more.

(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar and William James, editing by Kate Holton and Kevin Liffey)