Backing Ukraine, staying out of Iran and riding the Trump rollercoaster: how Starmer handled foreign affairs
Analysts say foreign policy was an ‘area of relative strength’ for the prime minister – but goodwill with the White House soon evaporated
TL;DR
- Starmer's foreign policy was tested by inherited conflicts and a changing US-UK relationship, particularly under Donald Trump.
- He maintained support for Ukraine, including facilitating a meeting between King Charles and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and a collective European stance against Russian demands.
- Starmer opted out of US-led strikes on Iran, prioritizing Britain's national interest despite Trump's disapproval, and later approved limited use of RAF bases for attacks on Iranian missile sites.
- Efforts to reset relations with the EU were constrained by Labour's commitment to not reversing Brexit, while engagement with China yielded limited gains.
- Britain's defense spending faced scrutiny, with Starmer increasing budgets modestly rather than meeting NATO's ambitious targets, leading to internal disagreements.
- The UK's independent power was highlighted by struggles to deploy military assets, underscoring the run-down of armed forces since the Cold War.