Apr 01, 2026
3 min read
35 countries will attend the meeting.Starmer responds to Trump's threat to leave NATO by pledging to strengthen defense cooperation with the EU.
This week the UK will host an international summit to promote the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
35 countries will attend the meeting.Starmer is responding to Trump's threat to abandon NATO and commit to strengthening the defense partnership with the EU
Britain is meeting with 35 countries this weekend to find a way to restore maritime traffic in the Iranian-blocked Strait of Hormuz.Foreign Affairs Minister Yvette Cooper will chair the first-ever meeting of these countries to consider all diplomatic and political measures to restore freedom of navigation, ensure the safety of stranded ships and crews, and resume the movement of essential goods, the prime minister said on Wednesday.Keir Starmer at a press conference at Downing Street.
Since becoming Britain's prime minister nearly two years ago, Starmer has been keen to define his country's role on the international stage.During the war in Ukraine, he promoted an "alliance of the willing" with France to guarantee the country's security on the day hostilities ceased.As war rages in the Middle East, Starmer pushes for a joint international response to defuse the conflict he refuses to be drawn into.
"We express our deep concern at the escalation of the conflict. We demand that Iran immediately cease its threats, mine laying, drone and missile attacks and all efforts to block commercial shipping lanes," said a joint statement issued by countries attending the meeting, led by Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Japan.
"We demand an immediate and complete cessation of attacks on public infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities. And we express our willingness to participate in the necessary efforts to ensure the passage of the strait. Therefore, we congratulate the countries that have committed to participate in this planning effort," the article said.
A new attack from Trump
A few minutes before the intervention of the prime minister, "The Daily Telegraph" newspaper published an interview with Donald Trump, in which the American president announced that he was considering the idea of withdrawing from NATO.the plane is no longer operational," he added.
Starmer avoids direct attacks.Instead, he responded with two arguments.He defended NATO as "the most effective military alliance known to the world" that has provided security for decades.At the same time, he defended the need to develop closer ties with Europe on defense and security.
Starmer 'no to war'
The British Prime Minister was more comfortable in his rejection of the conflict that occurred in Washington and Israel, which he interpreted from the beginning as being bad for international law and poorly planned.
"It is not our war. We will not allow ourselves to be dragged into a conflict that does not respond to our national interests. The best way to reduce the cost of living for the British is precisely by working to reduce the military escalation in the Middle East and achieve the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is a vital route for our energy needs," said Starmer.
The Labor government, like other countries in Europe, has approved a series of emergency measures to reduce the economic consequences of the war against Iran by reducing gas and electricity bills in most households.
Starmer announced that at the end of the international meeting to address the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, he will call together the military leaders of the participating countries to plan the possibility of a joint security effort in the Strait of Hormuz, but only when the war ends and a cessation of hostilities is reached.
The UK has decided to strengthen its willingness to work more closely with the EU on security, defence, the economy and trade.Starmer reiterated his commitment not to rejoin the country in the single market or customs union, but also announced his government's intention to seek tighter control with Brussels, always a casus belli for Eurosceptics.
"I think in all these cases we need closer relations with Europe. And, in fact, I think it will strengthen our relations with the United States. Many presidents of the United States have been emphasizing for some time that we need to do more on security and defense" on this side of the Atlantic, where Starmer, who has not been provoked by Trump in recent weeks, has been logically disturbed by Washington. Colleagues in the Labor Party urged him.
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