You can’t accuse David Cameron – or Lord Cameron, as the title befits his aristocratic pedigree – of lacking confidence. Although many would say this is unreasonable and creates a sense of entitlement.

Eton, Oxford, the Tory leadership…and then the coalition government, austerity and Brexit. His list of privileges and failings sounds like a summary of what has gone wrong in Britain over the past two decades and why.

But in the final days of 14 years of Conservative rule that began with his ill-fated coalition with the Liberals, he returned to government – this time without a mandate. Rishi Sunak tapped into Cameron’s political career, offering him a Foreign Office post. It is hoped that Cameron’s experience and undoubted panache will play an important role in Britain’s engagement with the rest of the world.

The U.S. faces a major test as Cameron meets with former and likely future President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago and in Washington with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, other Biden administration figures and members of Congress talks. The US, UK, Ukraine and the Middle East share common priorities.

This is an example of worlds colliding. Aristocrats, hometown conservatives and Florida spray-paint tycoons, alligator country, Magga rallies, Disney World and South Beach circuit parties.

The foreign secretary needs his famous affability as he asks the isolationist American to reconsider his NATO-sceptic, Putin-friendly worldview. Now, the Republican caucus in Congress, which for months has blocked a $60 billion package of vital military aid to Ukraine, has taken that stance. Analysts believe that Ukraine’s survival will be questioned if the United States does not quickly resume aid and strengthen air cover.

On policy, however, the current top diplomats of Britain and the United States are largely in agreement.

The elephant in US-UK relations is the presumptive Republican candidate and the far right of the Republican Party.

Cameron hasn’t exactly endeared himself to hardline Trump supporters. In February, He said Capitol Hill offers more aid to Ukraine. In response, Maga frontman Marjorie Taylor Greene told him to “kiss my ass.”

But Cameron’s calmness and experience may mean that if any Western diplomat can make Trump think again, he can. Anand Menon, an international affairs expert at King’s College London, pointed out: “Cameron’s record on foreign affairs is quite rubbish. But he has star appeal and is a good talker. So there is no reason for him not to work hard to bring Trump back.” consider.”

It’s unclear whether Trump appreciates Cameron’s smooth style as much as he seems to Passion for Boris Johnson It’s so unscrupulous. Opposites are not always attractive.

Menon believes Cameron’s best strategy is to address Trump’s transactional nature head-on. He might tell Trump that by supporting Ukraine and NATO, the United States might win European commitments for more defense spending and potentially better trade arrangements.

However, it is not difficult to imagine Trump countering that France is simply fulfilling its spending commitments 2% of GDP This year, two years after Russia attacked Ukraine, despite controversial hints NATO troops May need to be sent to invaded country.

Cameron may try to forge some geopolitical ties with Trump over the Gaza disaster.

In recent days, both men have criticized Israel’s handling of the war.Cameron said in an article sunday times The column said Britain’s support for Israel was “not unconditional” and demanded that Israel abide by humanitarian law. trump last week Gaza’s health ministry said Israel was “losing the public relations war” given that Israeli bombings have killed more than 33,000 people, including thousands of children.

But Cameron’s condemnation of the humanitarian disaster, while Trump’s call for Israel to “finish what they started,” suggests consensus on the issue is unlikely.

Will Cameron prompt Trump to make a U-turn on European security? Probably not. Is it important to try? Absolutely. If Cameron succeeds in changing the old huckster’s myopic worldview even just a little, his return to the White House could be crucial. That may be enough to avoid a loss of confidence in NATO at a time when Russia’s dictator is vengeful and ambitious.

The stakes are high – NATO prevented war in Western Europe for three-quarters of a century because The U.S. Embassy in London notes.

Trump may have other priorities.It had been obvious to him before assertion in february He would encourage Putin to attack NATO members who do not pay enough into the alliance. This person yelled in 2019: “I don’t give a damn about NATO!” His national security adviser, John Bolton.

Withdrawing from NATO could create political problems for Trump – bipartisan bill is trying to give Congress the power to stop him from doing so. But Trump could still fire the U.S. ambassador to NATO or end U.S. contributions.

NATO’s effectiveness depends on more than just its Article 5 mutual defense arrangement—it requires the Kremlin to believe that the United States is committed to defending Europe.

A grumpy anti-NATO tweet from Trump in the dead of night after a bucket of KFC and severe indigestion might put an end to that belief.

By November, Cameron may no longer be in government. If so, his remaining time will be measured in months or weeks. If Trump returns to power, Putin’s imperial ambitions will be seriously strengthened.

Trump says he can negotiate peace deal between Russia, Ukraine within 24 hours. That means giving Putin what he’s already got in exchange for empty promises. The Kremlin will rearm and occupy the rest of the country within five years. And it likely won’t stop at Ukraine’s western border.

If Cameron can get Trump to begin to understand (in the most diplomatic terms, of course) the naiveté of his position, the legacy tarnished by austerity and Brexit, and, in the eyes of some, on Syria and Libya Serious mistakes will be redeemed. Stroke.