Keir Starmer urges deeper UK-Europe security ties amid shifting US role

Former British prime minister Keir Starmer has urged the United Kingdom and its continental neighbours to forge deeper alliances, warning that the United States is no longer a dependable ally and that this strategic change is likely permanent.

Addressing the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, Starmer delivered his first major public remarks on foreign policy since stepping down from office in July. He argued that the shifts in Washington under President Donald Trump represent an enduring transformation in transatlantic relations rather than a brief departure from historical norms.

Starmer cautioned that European governments have previously failed to anticipate significant global challenges on two occasions. The first, he noted, was the full-scale Russian assault on Ukraine, which laid bare vulnerabilities across regional defence systems. The second arrived with the clear signal from the Trump administration that Washington will no longer underwrite European security needs. Because of this, he argued, Europe must move swiftly to take on greater self-reliance.

While emphasising that military and intelligence cooperation with the US remains indispensable, Starmer insisted that Britain must play a pivotal role in establishing a comprehensive European security architecture. He pointed to the UK's position as a nuclear-armed power, its leading role in Nato, and its investments in advanced combat aircraft as vital elements for regional stability.

The former prime minister, who visited Dublin to meet business figures and Taoiseach Micheál Martin, added that closer engagement with Europe must also encompass trade and economic collaboration. He previously warned that Brexit inflicted significant harm on the British economy and advocated for a much wider cooperative agenda.

Starmer's intervention aligns with a broader push from the current administration in London. His successor as prime minister, Andy Burnham, has pledged to pursue bolder relations with the European Union. Burnham is scheduled to join an upcoming UK-EU summit focused on cross-border energy links, food regulations, and youth mobility schemes, while also encouraging a nationwide discussion on future European cooperation.

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting met European counterparts in Paris this week, affirming that the UK remains firm in its backing of Ukraine against ongoing threats from Russia.