Starmer says UK must deepen EU ties as Middle East war reshapes security outlook

Starmer links EU reset to global instability

Keir Starmer said Britain’s long-term national interest demands a closer partnership with the EU, pointing to the war in the Middle East and a world that has become, if anything, even more unpredictable than advertised.

The prime minister said the conflict had pushed the government to think more ambitiously about new ties with Europe, both on the economy and on defence. How Britain comes through this period, he said, “would define us for a generation.” No pressure, then.

Speaking at Downing Street, Starmer also said the foreign secretary would host a meeting later this week with other countries on how to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz. After that, he said, military planners would be brought together to consider how Britain and its partners could use their capabilities to make the strait “accessible and safe” once the fighting ends.

“Because I do have to level with people on this. This will not be easy,” he said.

Europe, not just Washington

The clearest sign yet that Britain is moving its focus away from the US came when Starmer said he sees the country’s future as more closely tied to Europe, ahead of an EU summit following last year’s post-Brexit “reset” meeting.

“Brexit did deep damage to our economy, and the opportunities to strengthen our security and cut the cost of living are simply too big to ignore,” he said.

He then turned to the coming talks with the EU.

“At that summit, the UK will not just ratify existing commitments made at last year’s summit. We want to be more ambitious, closer economic cooperation, closer security cooperation, a partnership that recognises our shared values, our shared interest and our shared future. A partnership for the dangerous world that we must navigate together.”

Trump, Nato and the British line

Asked by journalists whether the push reflected his worsening relationship with Donald Trump, who has continued to criticise Britain and Starmer personally, the prime minister said deeper pan-European security cooperation was in everyone’s interest.

“I actually think that will help strengthen our relationship with the US,” he said.

When asked about Trump’s comments that he was strongly considering pulling the US out of Nato, Starmer said he would act in Britain’s national interest regardless of the “noise”.

“Whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I’m going to act in the British national interest in the decisions that I make,” he said.