Trump and the Wider World

Chair: Baroness Teather; Aide: Cllr Nick da Costa (Chair, FCC); Hall Aide: Jess Brown-Fuller MP

Submitted by: 12 party members
Mover: Calum Miller MP (Spokesperson on International Affairs)
Summation: David Chalmers (Chair, Federal International Relations Committee)

Conference is deeply alarmed by President Trump’s systematic violations of the rules-based international order and ongoing interference in British and European politics, exemplified by:

1. His insistence that Greenland – an autonomous Danish territory – becomes part of the US, alongside his threats of tariffs and initial refusal to rule out military action against NATO allies expressing support for the sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland, including the UK.
2. His brazen and illegal attack on Venezuela in January, including the kidnapping of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro – who, while being an illegitimate leader, should have been made to relinquish power through economic and diplomatic pressure rather than unilateral military action.
3. His unilateral military action against Iran in February – in contravention of international law – and ambitions for regime change, without any plan for ‘the day after’ or the protection of Iranian citizens.
4. His reckless response to the US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down his global tariff regime, threatening to upend trade deals with the UK and EU by setting a new 15 per cent tariff.
5. His administration's National Security Strategy, which calls for active interference in European politics to promote populist parties which share a Trumpian worldview.
6. His invitation to dictators like Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko to join his ‘pay-to-play’ Board of Peace for Gaza.
7. The remarks made by Trump’s US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, indicating his view that it would be acceptable for Israel to exercise full control over the occupied West Bank.

Conference believes:

1. Trump’s illegal attacks on Venezuela and Iran, as well as his threats against Greenland and NATO allies, send a terrible signal to dictators like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, encouraging them to act with even greater impunity and conduct further acts of aggression against their neighbours.
2. Trump’s actions have further eroded the rules-based international order and advanced the view that ‘might is right’ in international relations.
3. The UK's interests and values are best served by defending national sovereignty and upholding international law against all those – including Donald Trump – who seek to undermine them.
4. The UK must therefore work to rapidly boost defence spending in light of President Trump’s threats and Vladimir Putin’s continuing barbarism in Ukraine, reducing our strategic dependence on the US to ensure we can independently uphold our interests and values.
5. In its current form, Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ is inappropriate and illegitimate as a vehicle for advancing the rebuilding of Gaza and securing progress towards a two-state solution.
6. A two-state solution remains the only viable political pathway to ensuring peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Conference reaffirms the policy recommendations proposed in conference motions The UK’s Response to Trump (Spring 2025) and The Israel-Gaza Conflict - an immediate bilateral ceasefire and securing two states (Autumn 2024), and calls on the UK Government to::

1. Hold cross-party talks to agree a consensus on how to reach 3% of GDP spent on defence by 2030, and outline a roadmap for how to get there.
2. Rapidly implement a £20 billion ‘Defence Bonds’ programme, enabling members of the public and institutional investors to support the UK’s defence, inject much needed finance into bolstering the UK’s security, and stimulate the economy through investment in defence-related research and development.
3. Affirm that President Trump’s actions in Venezuela and Iran have breached international law, and rule out the use of UK bases to facilitate any future unilateral and illegal military action he undertakes.
4. Join Canada and France in establishing a formal consulate in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, bolstering the UK’s diplomatic engagement and partnership with Greenland.
5. Commit to working in unison with the UK’s European and Commonwealth partners to ensure President Trump backs down in any future attempts to threaten NATO allies, reassert his claims to other countries’ sovereign territory, or bully America’s trading partners with new tariffs.
6. Invest in expanding the UK's multilateral partnerships across defence and trade with partners whom Britain can rely on – particularly in Europe and the Commonwealth – and strengthening Britain's soft power.
7. Work with our allies to support multilateral, legal efforts to contain Iran’s development of arms to threaten Israel and the region, and to support the aims of protestors to install a just, democratic government.
8. Make clear that any UK engagement with the ‘Board of Peace’ must be conditional on Palestinians being properly represented, invitations for dictators being withdrawn, and Trump's membership fee being abolished.
9. Empower the moderates in Israeli and Palestinian society – including by banning UK trade with illegal settlements in the West Bank, and pushing for vital democratic reforms within the Palestinian Authority.

Applicability: Federal.

The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 on Thursday 12 March. The text of any amendments will be printed in Saturday and Sunday's Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 Saturday 14 March; see page 9 of the agenda for more information.

Mover: 7 minutes; summation 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 10-11 of the agenda. You can submit a speaker's card online here or in person.