Britain's Starmer seeks strong ties with both the EU and Donald Trump. That could be tricky

LONDON (AP) — Keir Starmer travels to Brussels on Monday, becoming the first British prime minister to attend a European Union leaders’ meeting since the U.K. left the bloc five years ago.

Starmer will head to dinner with EU leaders at Brussels’s neoclassical Egmont Palace, walking a diplomatic and economic tightrope. He is seeking to rebuild ties with the EU while avoiding tariffs from protectionist U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump has slapped import taxes on the United States’ biggest trading partners — Canada, Mexico and China — and says he will also impose tariffs on goods from the 27-nation EU, with which the U.S. has a trade deficit. His attitude toward Britain is more ambiguous. Trump said early Monday that “the U.K. is out of line but … I think that one can be worked out.”

Starmer has stressed his desire for a good relationship with Trump. His spokesman said Britain has a “fair and balanced trading relationship” with the U.S.

At a Brussels meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte on Monday before the EU dinner, Starmer said the U.K. would not have to choose between Europe and the United States

“Both of these relationships are very important to us," Starmer told reporters. "If you look at our vital interests, it’s really important we work with both, that we don’t see it as an either-or."

On the issue of tariffs, Starmer said, "it’s early days, and I think what’s really important is open and strong trading relations. That’s been the basis of my discussions with President Trump and I know that intense US-EU discussions are planned.”

Trump’s trade battles complicate Starmer’s aim of a “reset” with the EU after years of bitterness over Brexit. It’s already complicated enough by Britain’s domestic politics.

Starmer wants to remove some of the red tape and other barriers to trade with the bloc imposed by Brexit but has ruled out the two things that would make the most difference — rejoining the bloc’s customs union or single market.

He also has resisted EU pressure for a youth mobility deal that would let young people from Britain and the EU live and work in the other’s territory for a time.

Starmer’s center-left Labour Party government is wary of riling populist politicians like Reform U.K. leader Nigel Farage, who is poised to pounce on any perceived “betrayal” of Brexit.

Starmer is aiming for relatively modest changes such as making it easier for artists to tour and for professionals to have their qualifications recognized, and seeking closer cooperation on law enforcement and security.

EU politicians have welcomed the change of tone from Starmer’s euroskeptic Conservative predecessors, but want concrete proposals, and inevitably compromises, from the U.K. Britain and the EU say they will hold a full leaders’ summit later this year.

Ahead of the meeting in Brussels, Starmer said he would stress the importance of “keeping up the pressure” with sanctions on Russia to squeeze its “war machine” targeting Ukraine.

Trump’s return to office has raised questions over U.S. support for Kyiv — and for the trans-Atlantic military alliance itself. Trump has said that NATO countries should spend at least 5% of their GDPs on defense, up from the current 2% target. He also has not ruled out using military force to seize control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark.

Britain spends 2.3% of GDP on defense and says it will increase it to 2.5%.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, second left, is greeted by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte prior to a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana, Pool)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speak during a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana, Pool)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana, Pool)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana, Pool)

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer waits for Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz to arrive at the Chequers, in Aylesbury, England, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Ben Stansall/Pool Photo via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tyler Glasnow tossed five shutout innings in his season debut, Teoscar Hernández hit a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the winless Atlanta Braves 6-1 on Monday night.

The defending champions are 6-0 for the first time since 1981, when they won the World Series.

Atlanta fell to 0-5 for the first time since starting 0-9 in 2016.

Glasnow (1-0) gave up singles to Jarred Kelenic and Michael Harris II in the fifth — and that was it. The right-hander struck out eight and walked three in a series opener between perennial National League pennant contenders.

Hernández's 436-foot shot to center field in the first scored Shohei Ohtani, who walked. Ohtani has scored in all six games this season.

The Dodgers extended their lead to 4-0 in the third on Michael Conforto's RBI double and Tommy Edman's sacrifice fly. Will Smith added an RBI single in the fifth.

Kiké Hernández homered leading off the sixth against 41-year-old Jesse Chavez, called up from Triple-A earlier in the day for his fifth stint with Atlanta since 2021.

Braves starter Grant Holmes (0-1) gave up four runs and four hits over four innings in his season debut. He struck out three and walked four.

Atlanta put right-hander Reynaldo López on the injured list with shoulder inflammation.

Harris’ homer to center in the eighth off Tanner Scott snapped a streak of 29 consecutive scoreless innings for Atlanta.

Ohtani went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts and two walks, dropping his batting average under .300.

LHP Chris Sale (0-0, 5.40 ERA), last season's NL Cy Young Award winner, starts Tuesday night for the Braves.

Dodgers RHP Dustin May pitches in the majors for the first time since May 2023. May had Tommy John surgery that year and last summer underwent emergency surgery to repair a tear in his esophagus caused by a salad.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Atlanta Braves Grant Holmes throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, in, Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies, left, turns a double play at second base after forcing out Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy, right, during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, in, Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow throws against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, in, Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández hits a two-run home run against Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, March 31, 2025, in, Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)