Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK and Europe must work closer together as the US becomes less reliable, warning that “things will not go back to the way they were” even after Donald Trump leaves office.
In his first major intervention since leaving Downing Street, Starmer said the US would no longer “bankroll” its allies. The former MP argued that Europe needs a “common security framework as much as a common market,” with the UK at its centre.
Speech at Dublin City Hall
Speaking at the British Irish Chamber of Commerce dinner at Dublin City Hall on Friday evening, Starmer 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.”
A permanent change of affairs
Starmer 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 former 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.”
Strained relationship with Trump
Starmer fell out with Donald Trump over his refusal to directly involve the UK in the Iran war and 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.
