What will Starmer’s defence spending buy from Trump?

Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that he is increasing defence
spending to 2.5% of GDP has defence experts taking a sigh of
relief, whilst humanitarian workers are left despairing. Nick and
Amol are joined by former US military strategist Rachel Ellehuus,
the new director general of defence think-tank RUSI, to explore
how the UK – and Europe – will contain Russia without so much
American support.


Plus, Theresa May’s former chief of staff Fiona Hill remembers an
awkward first meeting between the PM and a newly elected
President Trump.


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The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson who
are both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Amol was
the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of
the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University
Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he
was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also
previously worked as ITV’s political editor.


This episode was made by Tom Smithard with Nadia Gyane and Grace
Reeve. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The
technical producer was Mike Regaard. The editor is Louisa Lewis.
The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.