Defence Secretary John Healey has warned that Donald Trump's threats to the NATO alliance could undermine UK security, urging the US to judge Britain on its military contributions rather than social media posts.
Speaking at a conference in London, Healey highlighted that UK military bases have been "invaluable" to US operations in the Gulf. "If we focus on our actions rather than just simply the exchange of words and social media posts, then the fundamentals for me remain," he said.
The comments come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer held discussions with Trump and Gulf leaders on securing the Strait of Hormuz amid a fragile ceasefire. Trump has expressed anger at what he sees as a lack of support from NATO allies during the Iran conflict and has threatened the alliance's future.
Starmer acknowledged the need for European NATO members to "do more" but stressed the alliance was in America's interests. "Nato is a defensive alliance, which for decades has kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been," he said.
