The important relationship

Trump craves our attention; Europe deserves it

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On Tuesday, President Trump arrives in London on his second state visit. No other US leader has had two. A bruised British government is making the argument that it is a clever piece of statecraft, deploying the royal family to sustain the special relationship.

For what? There is a sensible answer involving commerce, security and culture, but Trump seems determined to undermine it. UK-US trade is shrinking because of tariffs, even if they are not as high as he has imposed on others. American concern for European security amounted last week to a vague expression of presidential unhappiness when Russian drones violated Nato airspace. For culture, read culture wars.