LONDON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday said Britain would act in its national interest and would not change its position on the Iran war, responding to US President Donald Trump’s remarks about Washington’s possible withdrawal from the (NATO).
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.
Multiple European countries have kept their distance from the conflict with Iran.
Starmer said on Monday his country will not get dragged into the conflict “whatever the pressure and whoever it’s coming from,” while Spain on Monday closed its airspace to all flights related to the US and Israeli military strikes on Iran.
What did Trump say?
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,” The Telegraph reported on Wednesday.
Asked if he would reconsider America’s membership in the alliance after the conflict, he said the question is “beyond reconsideration,” adding: “I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger.”
He also expressed dissatisfaction with NATO for “not being there,” saying it was “actually hard to believe.”
Singling out Britain, he said the country has “aircraft carriers that didn’t work,” suggesting that the British navy is inadequate for the task.
US Secretary of State said before the interview that the US would have to “re-examine” its NATO membership after the conflict, the report said. “If NATO is just about us defending Europe if they’re attacked, but them denying us basing rights when we need them, that’s not a very good arrangement. That’s a hard one to stay engaged in,” the report quoted Rubio as saying.
Trump told The Telegraph he was “glad” about Rubio’s comments.