How Keir Starmer's astute handling of Donald Trump is helping preserve the Special Relationship
Keir Starmer has sent a clear message to Donald Trump that he cannot expect to simply order Britain about
Depending on the poll, Keir Starmer is either the most unpopular Prime Minister in modern British history or a close second to the calamitous Liz Truss, which takes some doing.
However, the reasons why are mostly domestic – the lacklustre economy, the cost of living, the increasingly routine U-turns and climbdowns. In contrast, he has managed to win praise, even from political opponents, for his handling of international affairs.
This was particularly true of his response to Donald Trump’s unjustified ‘liberation day’ tariffs. His placatory approach helped minimise the damage and keep relations with Washington reasonably friendly.
Clearly, the recent disagreement over Starmer’s refusal to allow US warplanes to use British bases for the attack on Iran caused tensions, with Trump saying unpleasantly: “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.”
Starmer’s right decisions
However, Starmer took the right decision. As former Nato Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe Richard Shirreff explained: “Britain has to do what is right for Britain. There is absolutely a case for getting involved but it should not get involved in any shape or form with an operation where the end stage has not been made clear...”
Starmer was also right to subsequently allow British bases to be used to counter the vile Iranian regime’s missile attacks on countries including: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Turkey and Cyprus.
The Prime Minister’s assessment that the Special Relationship is strong enough to survive such spats is correct. Its future was put in doubt by Trump’s failure to rule out military action to seize Greenland from Nato ally Denmark, but that turned out to be mere bravado.
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By refusing to allow himself to be bullied into taking action against our national interest, Starmer sent a clear message that Trump cannot expect to order Britain about. It is one that he needed to hear and which will help ensure he does not push things too far in future.
Despite Trump’s antics, the Special Relationship will endure thanks mainly to the long history of friendship between the UK and US but also, in part, to Starmer’s astute and nuanced management of this arrogant, unpredictable and petulant president.
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