Keir Starmer blasts European allies for 'needing to do more on Nato' as he advises Donald Trump alliance is 'in America's interest'

Oliver Partridge
Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:49:38 +0000

Sir Keir Starmer has told reporters that Britain's European allies need to do more in Nato after Donald Trump stepped up threats to pull out of the alliance.

The Prime Minister was speaking to reporters as part of a visit to the Gulf states following the agreement of a ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.

Sir Keir said: "We’re very strong supporters of Nato and I’ve been making the argument for some considerable time that we need to do more. It’s the single most effective military alliance the world has ever known.

"Do we Europeans need to do more? Yes, I’ve been making that argument for the best part of two years, to our European partners as much as anybody else. We continue to make that case and we will make that case."

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He added: "It is in America’s interests, it’s in European interests. Nato is a defensive alliance, which for decades has kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been.

"So we’re strong supporters of Nato. We’ll always be strong supporters of Nato. Do I think this will be a stronger European element to Nato? Yes, and I think we should step into that space.

"We’re already doing it, which is why we’re coordinating strategically with our partners in Nato."

Sir Keir acknowledged the ceasefire in the Middle East was "fragile", as he left Qatar at the end of his trip to the region.

His comments come after he spoke to US President Donald Trump about the need for a "practical plan" to get shipping going through the Strait of Hormuz as transatlantic tensions run high.

On the question of American military operations from British soil, Sir Keir yesterday confirmed the Government is actively monitoring how US forces utilise UK bases.

The Prime Minister was emphatic that Britain would not participate in offensive military operations or become entangled in the wider conflict.

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Sir Keir once again outlined that British involvement would be strictly limited to protecting "British lives, British interests and, of course, our allies here in the Gulf".

He invoked the shadow of past conflicts, saying: "We have to learn the lessons of Iraq. We need to be clear where we stand as a country".

The Prime Minister emphasised that decisions on British national interest remained solely his responsibility.

He also addressed the critical question of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that vessels must be able to pass without facing charges.

Sir Keir also described the emotional atmosphere among Gulf leaders during his regional visit, noting they were "pleased to see a friend" at such a critical juncture.

The Prime Minister detected genuine astonishment among his counterparts at the scale of attacks they had endured, despite not having participated in strikes against Iran.

"There's a relief that there is a ceasefire, I think a sense from them that it's fragile, that there's a lot of work to do on the ceasefire," Sir Keir said.

He suggested this sentiment of relief extended to the British public, who had watched events unfold with considerable anxiety about potential consequences for themselves.

He also mentioned he would not echo the language US President Donald Trump has used in his recent posts on Truth Social.

Asked about Mr Trump’s use of expletives and phrases such as "praise be to Allah", Sir Keir said: "Let me be really clear and blunt about this.

"They’re not words I would use or would ever use because I come at this with our British values and principles foremost and uppermost in my mind."