Politics
Keir Starmer says UK must get closer to Europe with US relationship changed forever
Key Points
Keir Starmer says UK must get closer to Europe with US relationship changed forever In his first major intervention since leaving Downing Street, the former PM warned 'things will not go back to the way they were', and the US would no longer 'bankroll' its allies The UK and Europe must work closer together as the US becomes less reliable, Keir Starmer has claimed. In his first major intervention since leaving Downing Street, the former PM warned “things will not go back to the way they...
Keir Starmer says UK must get closer to Europe with US relationship changed forever
In his first major intervention since leaving Downing Street, the former PM warned 'things will not go back to the way they were', and the US would no longer 'bankroll' its allies
The UK and Europe must work closer together as the US becomes less reliable, Keir Starmer has claimed.
In his first major intervention since leaving Downing Street, the former PM warned “things will not go back to the way they were”, and even after Donald Trump the US would no longer “bankroll” its allies.
The ex-MP argued Europe needed a “common security framework as much as a common market” with the UK at its centre.
Speaking at the British Irish Chamber of Commerce dinner at Dublin City Hall on Friday evening, he said: “A stronger Europe is vital and the UK must be at the heart of it. Europe has twice been caught asleep – failing to anticipate and prepare for predictable events.
“First when Russia ’s attack on Ukraine exposed long-standing European weaknesses on defence and security; and second when President Trump made clear, once and for all, that the US will no longer bankroll our European security. We have to catch up.”
He added: “I will say here what I have said to European leaders. This is about responding to a permanent change of affairs, not an aberration of the Trump presidency. Things will not go back to the way they were before.
“That doesn’t mean the US relationship is no longer important. On the contrary, the military, security and intelligence alliance is far too strong for that.
“But it does mean enabling Europe to take on far more responsibility for its own defence and security.”
The PM said increased defence spending was part of the picture, but that the challenge “goes far beyond that”.
He said: “We need to build up pan-European co-operation and co-ordination on defence and security – a common security framework as much as a common market.
“The EU is changing to respond to that, but it cannot be the EU alone when Europe’s periphery is core to its defence.”
The former Labour leader fell out with Donald Trump over his refusal to directly involve the UK in the Iran war and Mr Trump’s threats to annex Greenland.
He was replaced by Andy Burnham after resigning as leader in the summer, but has expressed a desire to continue working on the world stage, with reports linking him to the secretary general role at Nato.