Former U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron has raised significant concerns regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's approach to Ukraine, suggesting it could have alarming implications for Russia's neighboring Baltic states. During CNBC's CONVERGE LIVE event in Singapore on Thursday, Cameron expressed his apprehension about the potential precedent set by Trump's strategy for securing peace in Ukraine.
Cameron, who served as the U.K.'s prime minister from 2010 to 2016 and as foreign minister under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from 2023 to 2024, voiced his fears in a live interview. His comments focused on the impact that Trump's approach could have on Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—countries that share a border with Russia.
"My fear is always that it goes beyond that [and] Trump's view of the world is more that the big power in the neighborhood is sovereign, and you shouldn't interfere with what they want to do." – David Cameron
Cameron's remarks came amid discussions on Trump's efforts to foster a peace negotiation between Ukraine and Russia. He expressed hope that Trump's unconventional methods might unlock a pathway to peace but warned of the dangers if they go unchecked.
"My hope is that what Donald Trump is doing is using quite startling language and quite startling approaches to try and unlock situations, to try and create a situation where Ukraine wants to negotiate peace, Russia wants to negotiate peace, and to get there." – David Cameron
Cameron's concern centered on the notion that Trump's tactics might embolden larger powers to exert influence over their smaller neighbors. He stressed the importance of supporting sovereignty and independence for nations like Ukraine and the Baltic states.
"I think it'd be very worrying for Ukraine. These are independent, sovereign countries and we should support the idea that independent sovereign countries should not be invaded." – David Cameron
The live broadcast of Cameron's statement highlights his deep-seated worry over the potential ramifications of Trump's approach for international relations in Eastern Europe. As discussions continue on achieving peace in Ukraine, Cameron's comments underscore the delicate balance of power in the region and the critical importance of respecting sovereignty.