LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday embarked on his first foreign trip as British leader to Washington to attend NATO’s 75th anniversary summit following a landslide election victory last Friday.
Starmer, 61, emphasized that the summit presents an opportunity to reinforce Britain’s steadfast support for the Western military alliance and Ukraine’s resistance against Russian aggression. He outlined his objectives to “reset relationships, reinvigorate our unshakeable commitment to the alliance, and showcase Britain’s strength on the global stage”.
“This is a pivotal moment for us to reaffirm our alliances and demonstrate our leadership,” Starmer said ahead of the summit.
The visit marks the beginning of a vigorous schedule of international diplomacy for Starmer, who will also host a European leaders’ conference next week.
Foreign policy expert James Strong commented, “It will be an opportunity for him to learn and establish relations with other leaders, crucial for effective diplomacy.”
Under the previous Conservative government, the UK played a pivotal role as one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters, providing financial aid, military equipment, and training to bolster its defences against Russian incursions. Starmer has pledged to uphold this support under Labour, and intends to personally reaffirm this commitment to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the NATO summit.
Starmer’s Defence Secretary John Healey has already visited Ukraine, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy engaging with European NATO members to reinforce collaborative efforts.
