New Delhi: As world leaders convened at the Munich Security Conference, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his support for Ukraine’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). His remarks came just days after the United States dismissed Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, with US President Donald Trump deeming Kyiv’s goal of restoring its pre-2014 borders “unrealistic”.
During a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Starmer reiterated his commitment to a pledge made alongside former US President Joe Biden at last year’s NATO summit in Washington, vowing to support Ukraine’s path to membership.
According to a Downing Street spokesperson, Starmer reaffirmed the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine “for as long as it’s needed”. He emphasised that discussions about Ukraine’s future must include Ukraine itself and that the country required strong security guarantees, additional legal aid and a sovereign future.
The timing of Starmer’s statement is significant, given his upcoming visit to the US and a recent impromptu conversation with Trump Thursday. The conversation occurred Thursday during Starmer’s meeting with Mark Burnett, a British TV producer and Trump 2.0’s special envoy to the UK.
Amid details of the pair’s conversation, the Number 10 statement said Starmer “took a call from President Trump and discussed his forthcoming visit to the US”.
Last night, Special Envoy to the UK Mark Burnett attended a dinner with PM Keir Starmer. They discussed the unique and special relationship between our nations, and the potential for further collaboration on trade, technology, and culture. During the dinner @POTUS called his… pic.twitter.com/I8j3MwU7aJ
— U.S. Embassy London (@USAinUK) February 14, 2025
While Starmer and Trump sit on opposite ends of the political spectrum, their discussions indicate a willingness to maintain diplomatic ties. However, Starmer’s staunch support for NATO and his firm stance on Ukraine contrast sharply with Trump’s more sceptical view of the alliance, potentially laying the groundwork for future tensions given that Trump has returned to the White House.
Complicating matters further, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has previously called Trump a “racist” and a “dangerous clown”. Then, in an unusual turn of events just weeks before the election, Trump’s team accused the Labour government of “illegal foreign interference” in the US election. However, the bigger issue on the front is “how the UK is now viewed in the United States”, writes London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) professor Michael Cox.
Special relationship
In his Iron Curtain speech in 1946, Winston Churchill first spoke of the ‘special relationship’—describing the deep alliance between the UK and the US.
Marked by partnership during World War II and the Cold War, and intelligence-sharing agreements, like the UKUSA Agreement of 1946, for decades, the two nations closely coordinated on military interventions, foreign policy and trade.
The UK and US have been military allies in almost every major conflict of the past century. Britain stood alongside America in World War II, the Korean War, and more controversially, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While the UK supported the US-led intervention in Iraq in 2003, there was significant public opposition to the war in Britain, particularly following the controversial Second Battle of Fallujah.
The resignations of senior officials, including Robin Cook and Clare Short, underscored the deep divisions within the British government. By 2004, support for the war had declined significantly, with a YouGov poll showing a drop from 54 percent approval in 2003 to 41 percent in 2004.
The Chilcot Report later revealed that the US pushed the UK into military action in Iraq “too early” and that military action was not a last resort. It also stated that Tony Blair had wanted a UN resolution backing action, which the US thought was a waste of time.
The UK’s military frustrations with the US resurfaced in 2021, when the Biden administration unilaterally withdrew from Afghanistan. The then UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had called the US decision a mistake, expressing disappointment at the lack of coordination with allies.
The chaotic withdrawal strained relations between London and Washington, highlighting the UK’s declining influence in US decision-making. Similarly, in January 2023, a senior US general reportedly told Wallace that the British Army was no longer considered a top-tier fighting force.
Brexit
Since World War II, the UK has acted as a crucial link between the US and Europe, shaping transatlantic policies and projecting American influence. However, Brexit further diminished the UK’s significance for the US in Europe. Once regarded as America’s primary gateway to the European Union, Britain’s 2016 decision to leave the European Union altered its strategic importance.
While President Trump supported Brexit and promised a swift UK-US trade deal, no comprehensive agreement materialised. Subsequent US administrations have focused on strengthening ties with the EU, reducing Britain’s role in transatlantic diplomacy.
As an EU member, Britain played a key role in the bloc’s foreign, security and defence strategies. However, Brexit introduced uncertainties about its lasting impact on transatlantic relations and the European power balance.
The US political and expert community remains split on Brexit. Liberals argue that it diminished the UK’s global standing, especially in security and finance. For instance, Thomas Wright of the Brookings Institution suggests that an isolated Britain weakens the transatlantic alliance, making democracies less competitive with China.
In contrast, conservative factions view Brexit as advantageous for US interests, perceiving the EU as an economic and political competitor. Analysts from the Heritage Foundation have described the EU as “an economic, political and military competitor”, suggesting that Brexit could serve US strategic interests by weakening a rival bloc.
“The UK’s decision to leave the European Union has raised questions concerning probable implications of Brexit for the transatlantic relationship and the European balance of power,” said a study by Institute for the US and Canadian Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences in 2022.
With Brexit reshaping diplomatic priorities and military decisions highlighting a declining UK role, the once-special bond between Britain and the US appears increasingly strained.
The Trump factor
Politically, Starmer and Trump stand on opposite ends of the spectrum. Starmer, a Centre-Left Labour leader, emphasises multilateralism and international cooperation, while Trump’s “America First” approach has often challenged global alliances.
Trump’s scepticism about European defence spending and previous threats to withdraw from NATO contrast sharply with Starmer’s firm commitment to the alliance and support for Ukraine.
Trump’s first term saw economic friction with the UK, including threats of tariffs on British goods. His unpredictable foreign policy has already led to clashes with previous UK leaders—he frequently criticised Theresa May’s Brexit strategy and, despite ideological similarities, had a somewhat strained relationship with Boris Johnson.
A major point of contention is Trump’s latest move to impose “reciprocal tariffs”, targeting countries that charge VAT on US goods. While the full impact on the UK remains uncertain, industry leaders warn of significant economic fallout.
Gareth Stace, director general of UK Steel, told The Guardian that US tariffs could stifle UK exports, endangering over £400 million in annual steel trade. “The US is our second-largest export market after the EU,” he said.
Meanwhile, PM Starmer has promised a “level-headed assessment”, but emphasised that the UK’s response will prioritise “national interests and steelworkers”. As the US remains Britain’s second-largest export market after the EU, trade tensions under a Trump presidency could further complicate economic relations.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)