British foreign secretary and former prime minister David Cameron is in the US today as he tries to muster up support for sending aid to Ukraine. While Cameron plans to discuss other urgent issues on the trip, such as the situation in the Middle East, the priority is to make the argument for the US to step up funding to Ukraine; senior Republicans are accused of blocking a $62 billion package for Kyiv. The push comes after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Sunday that his side would lose to Putin if American aid was withheld and Ukrainian air cover is not improved.
Will the charm offensive work? The last time Cameron tried to intervene — using a piece for the Hill to warn against repeating “weakness displayed against Hitler” — it led Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene to tell a journalist: “David Cameron can kiss my ass.” Undeterred, the foreign secretary is trying to meet with as many senior Republicans and Democrats as possible. This began with a visit to Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence. Given the unpredictable nature of Trump, this is viewed as a high-stakes move but one that is necessary when it comes to winning over Republicans. As of this lunchtime, government aides are keeping tight-lipped on how the conversation went.
Next up Cameron is due to meet with secretary of state Antony Blinken, as well as other prominent American politicians on both sides. However, there is still a question mark on whether he will secure a meeting with House speaker Mike Johnson. Johnson has so far declined to put the Ukraine aid issue onto the floor of Congress but has suggested he could do in the coming weeks. Ahead of the visit, Cameron said he would urge Johnson to pass the funding. But the former prime minister must strike a careful balance on this trip — if he looks as though he is lecturing the US then the diplomatic offensive could backfire.
This article was originally published on The Spectator’s UK website.
