Keir Starmer Breaks Silence on UK’s Global Loyalty—Refuses to Pick Between U.S. and Europe, But Backs Trump on Defense

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has weighed in on one of the trickiest questions facing Britain right now—whether the UK should lean more towards the US or Europe. His answer? We shouldn’t have to choose at all. Speaking to The New York Times, Starmer made it clear he believes picking sides would be a major misstep for the UK. “Many people are urging us to choose between the U.S. and Europe. Churchill didn’t do it. Attlee didn’t do it. It’d be a big mistake, in my view, to choose now,” he said.

Starmer’s comments come at a time when Britain’s post-Brexit identity is still very much up for debate. With the country no longer part of the EU and relationships with both Brussels and Washington under constant scrutiny, the question of who we align with is becoming more pressing.

While the Prime Minister was quick to reject the idea of cutting ties with either side, he did agree with former US President Donald Trump on one key issue: defense. “I do think that President Trump has a point when he says there needs to be a greater burden borne by European countries for the collective self-defense of Europe,” Starmer said.

It’s a remark that may raise eyebrows among some in Westminster, especially given Trump’s often blunt takes on NATO and European defense spending. But for Starmer, the message seems to be less about backing Trump and more about calling for fairer contributions from Europe when it comes to security.

All of this is happening against the backdrop of Brexit, the 2016 referendum that saw 52% of Brits vote to leave the European Union. The economic ripple was immediate—the pound plummeted to a 30-year low—and the political fallout is still being felt. The UK officially triggered the process of leaving the EU in March 2017, with the final deal signed off in 2020.

Now, nearly a decade on from that historic vote, Starmer’s remarks hint at a more balanced, pragmatic approach. Rather than being forced into a corner, he seems determined for Britain to maintain strong ties with both Europe and the US—something past leaders managed and he believes we still can.

For a country still navigating its place in the world post-Brexit, it’s a message that suggests cooperation over division, and partnership over picking sides. Whether that’s a strategy the public gets behind remains to be seen.