UK's Starmer Rejects Trump's Call to Join Iran War, Backs Ukraine
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has firmly declared that Britain will not be drawn into a 'wider war' in the Middle East, directly distancing his government from US-led military action against Iran. His comments come after former President Donald Trump called on NATO allies for help in securing the vital Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments that Iran has threatened. Trump warned the alliance faced a 'very bad' future if it did not assist, specifically expressing displeasure with the UK's stance. The European response has mirrored the UK's reluctance. EU leaders have stated they have 'no appetite' to expand their naval mission to the strait, with multiple reports confirming that NATO allies are rejecting Trump's demands. This collective hesitation underscores a significant transatlantic divergence in strategy and a widespread unwillingness to be pulled into a conflict perceived by many European capitals as a US-Israeli initiative. Amid the escalating tensions, Starmer emphasized that the conflict must not detract from supporting Ukraine, stating it 'cannot allow the war in the Gulf to turn into a windfall for Putin.' He confirmed that weapons supplies to Kyiv are continuing. Domestically, the Prime Minister also unveiled a £53m support package to help UK households with heating oil bills, which have surged due to rising oil costs triggered by the conflict. While Trump's criticism has highlighted strains in the US-UK 'special relationship,' analysts suggest it may strengthen Starmer's position at home by demonstrating foreign policy independence.
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Sources
Starmer distances UK from Iran war as EU leaders rule out sending warships | US-Israel war on Iran | The Guardian
Keir Starmer has insisted that the UK will not be drawn into the wider war in the Middle East as European leaders ruled out sending warships to the strait of Hormuz. In his clearest signal yet of the UK’s divergence from Donald Trump’s attack on Iran, the prime minister said he would stand ...
Iran war cannot be ’windfall’ for Putin, says Starmer, as Zelenskyy arrives in UK
Both Starmer and the defence secretary, John Healey, expressed firm support for Ukraine on Monday and said they were continuing weapons supplies. The prime minister said it “was vital that we continue to focus on supporting Ukraine. We cannot allow the war in the Gulf to turn into a windfall for Putin.” · Russia has received €6bn (£5bn) from selling its fossil fuels in the fortnight since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran...
Iran war latest: Trump hits out at UK as he seeks help from America's allies | World News | Sky News
Donald Trump says "numerous countries" ... against Iranian attacks; The US president warned NATO faced a "very bad" future if allies did not help to secure the strait, and reiterated he was "not happy" with the UK; Meanwhile, allies have responded by saying "this is not NATO's war", with the EU insisting it has "no appetite" to expand its naval mission to the strait; Sir Keir Starmer has resisted ...
UK will not be drawn into wider war in Middle East, says Keir Starmer | US-Israel war on Iran | The Guardian
After oil costs surged following the outbreak of the Iran conflict, Starmer announced that households reliant on heating oil to warm their homes would receive £53m of government support to help with their bills.
Iran-US war latest: Nato allies reject Trump’s demand for help to open Strait of Hormuz after threats | The Independent
Starmer resists call to send UK ships to Strait of Hormuz as Trump warns Nato faces ‘very bad’ future · ‘Iran is someone else’s war’: Readers on why Gen Z are reluctant to fight · Nato faces 'very bad future' if allies fail to help US in Iran, Trump warns · Israel says it still has ‘thousands of targets’ left to hit in Iran ... We’re seeing an alert from Reuters news ...
Iran has the longest coastline of any Gulf state and it has the capacity to threaten shipping - which in normal times carries around 20% of the world's oil supplies - indefinitely as it passes through the narrow chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz. The US president's call on countries to come and help cope with the consequences of a war he co-started with Israel is being met with reluctance. The UK...
The US has already targeted mine-laying boats at berth in Iranian ports, but it is hard to see many of Washington's allies being willing to follow suit, especially if this involves putting boots on the ground. In an environment so full of possible dangers, it is not surprising that countries are hesitating to get involved, preferring instead to call, as the UK ...
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