British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday (local time) that Britain should draw closer to its European allies on security and economics as the war in Iran has caused global instability, Reuters reported.
Amid repeated criticism from US President Donald Trump, Starmer, speaking at a press conference today, said the impact of the war was “defining us for a generation”, adding that it could be similar to the spike in energy prices in the 1970s.
During a conference aimed at allaying public concerns about rising costs, the British prime minister 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
Speaking to reporters in Downing Street, Starmer noted: “It is increasingly clear that as the world continues down this unstable path, our long-term national interest requires a closer partnership with our allies in Europe.”
His remarks came hours after US President Donald Trump said in an interview that he was reconsidering US membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for not helping Washington in its war with Iran. He also singled out Starmer for refusing to help Washington. Earlier, Trump also criticized Starmer, calling him “no Winston Churchill”.
Following his remarks, Starmer warned Britain and other countries to “start learning how to fight for themselves”, adding that the US would not be there to help them.
The UK will seek to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
According to a Bloomberg report, Starmer said London would coordinate a diplomatic push to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as war in Iran threatens to derail global economies and fracture the transatlantic alliance.
He added that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper would chair a meeting with 35 nations from the Group of Seven, Europe and the Gulf later this week to push through a plan to get the ships back through the strait. At the same time, he reiterated that Britain does not wish to be “drawn” into a military conflict.
Starmer commented: “We will consider all viable diplomatic and political measures we can take to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers and restore the movement of vital commodities.”
Starmer reassures the Brits
As the conflict in the Middle East now enters its second month, the British prime minister used a press conference to explain what London is doing to help Britons. He noted that fuel tax had been frozen until September, adding that he was “monitoring the situation daily”. Starmer said the British government’s response would depend on the length of the conflict and how quickly the strait could be reopened.
The Strait of Hormuz is closed
Days after the US and Israel went to 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 about a fifth of the world’s oil. Tehran’s decision to use this powerful weapon in the war has angered countries, with some declaring a national state of emergency.
