UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday (local time) said that Britain should align more closely with its European allies on security and the economy, as the war in Iran has caused global instability, Reuters reported.
Amid repeated criticism from US President Donald Trump, Starmer, who addressed a press conference today, said the impact of the war would “define us for a generation”, adding that it could be similar to the increase in energy prices in the 1970s.
During the conference, which was aimed at easing public concerns over rising costs, the UK PM outlined plans for another summit with the European Union in the coming weeks, adding that he hoped it would undo the “deep damage” caused by Brexit.
Starmer seeks closer EU partnership
Addressing the reporters at Downing Street, Starmer noted, “It is increasingly clear that as the world continues down this volatile path, our long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe.”
His remarks came hours after US President Donald Trump, in an interview, said that he is reconsidering the US’s North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) membership for not helping Washington in his war with Iran. He also singled out Starmer for refusing to help Washington. Previously, Trump also slammed Starmer, calling him “no Winston Churchill”.
Following his remarks, Starmer warned Britain and other countries, urging them to “start learning how to fight for themselves,” adding that the US won’t be there to help them.
UK to push for reopening the Strait of Hormuz
According to a Bloomberg report, Starmer said that London will coordinate a diplomatic push to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as the war in Iran threatens to derail economies globally and fracture the transatlantic alliance.
He added that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper would chair a meeting later this week with 35 nations from the Group of Seven, Europe, and the Gulf to push for a plan to get ships sailing back through the Strait. At the same time, he reiterated that Britain does not wish to be “dragged” into the military conflict.
Starmer noted, “We will assess all viable diplomatic and political measures that we can take to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers, and resume the movement of vital commodities.”
Starmer assures Britons
With the Middle East conflict now entering its second month, the UK Prime Minister used the press conference to spell out what London is doing to help Britons. He noted that the fuel duty has been frozen till September, adding that he is “monitoring that situation daily.” Starmer said that the UK government’s response will depend on the length of the conflict and how quickly the Strait can be reopened.
Strait of Hormuz is shut
Days after the US and Israel waged a war against Iran in late February, Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway in the Middle East, responsible for transporting roughly a fifth of the world’s oil. Tehran’s decision to use this potent weapon in its war has left the countries scrambling, with some declaring a national emergency.
