Starmer made the statement in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks about Washington’s possible withdrawal from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
At a press conference at 10 Downing Street, Starmer said there had been “a good deal of pressure” on him to change his stance on joining the war, but that he would not do so.
“Whatever the pressure, whatever the noise, I am the British prime minister and I have to act in our national interests,” he said.
The prime minister added that he would not choose between Europe and the United States.
“But I do think that when it comes to defense and security, energy emissions and the economy, we need a stronger relationship with Europe,” he said.
On Wednesday, Trump said he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO after the alliance failed to join the attacks on Iran, and called the alliance “a paper tiger,” according to The Telegraph reports.
Trump also singled out Britain, saying the country has “aircraft carriers that didn’t work,” suggesting that the British navy is inadequate for the task.
Trump has repeatedly insulted Starmer, calling him cowardly because of his unwillingness to join the U.S. war on Iran, saying he was “No Winston Churchill” and describing Britain’s aircraft carriers as “toys”.
In a sign that British foreign policy was shifting away from the United States, traditionally its closest ally, Starmer said he saw his country’s future being more aligned with Europe.
After Trump was elected as president for a second term in 2024, Starmer tried to position himself as a conduit between Europe and the United States. But their relationship has publicly deteriorated over the Iran war.
Starmer initially denied a request from the U.S. to attack Iran from two British bases, but later agreed to allow what he calls defensive missions aimed at protecting residents of the region, including British citizens.
Xinhua/NAN
