Former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned European leaders that the shift in relations with the United States under President Donald Trump is a permanent change, not an aberration, and that Europe must take far greater responsibility for its own defence and security. In his first significant political intervention since leaving office in July, Starmer told the British Irish Chamber of Commerce that Britain must be at the heart of a stronger Europe.
Starmer said Europe had been caught asleep twice: first by Russia's attack on Ukraine, which exposed longstanding European defence weaknesses, and second when President Trump made clear that the US would no longer bankroll European security. He argued that Europe had to catch up.
His successor as prime minister, Andy Burnham, has signalled a similar direction. Burnham has said he wants to be "bolder" about closer ties with the EU and has called for a public debate on a closer relationship after the next election. He is scheduled to attend an EU-UK summit next month that will focus on food standards, energy and youth mobility.
Starmer said the change in the relationship with Washington was not an aberration of the Trump presidency. “Things will not go back to the way they were before,” he said. He said the military, security and intelligence alliance with the US remained important, but that Europe must take on far more responsibility for its own defence.
Calling for a “common security framework as much as a common market”, Starmer said Britain must be central to the project. He cited the UK's status as one of two nuclear powers, its position as a leading Nato member, its viable next-generation fighter jet programme and its pledge to work alongside European allies to guarantee security in Ukraine.
Before leaving office, Starmer had said Brexit had done “deep damage” to the UK economy. He had called for greater ambition, including closer economic and security cooperation with European partners.
This week, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting attended a meeting of European defence ministers in Paris and said they were “united and unwavering” in their support for Ukraine in the face of Russian hostility.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The intervention signals a defining foreign-policy direction for the Labour Party, embedding deeper European integration as a post-Brexit and post-Trump strategy.
- It reflects a growing political consensus in the UK that the transatlantic security guarantee is permanently weakened, requiring a fundamental restructuring of European defence.
- The speech directly links economic and security policy, arguing that Brexit damage and the US shift together demand a significantly closer UK-EU relationship.
Background
Keir Starmer served as UK prime minister until July 2026, when he was succeeded by Andy Burnham. During his tenure, relations with the Trump administration became increasingly strained over Nato burden-sharing and trade. Starmer had previously called for closer European ties earlier in 2026, citing the need for a "partnership for a dangerous world".
Key Perspectives
Keir Starmer: Europe was caught unprepared by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the American policy shift; the situation demands a permanent common security framework with the UK at its centre.
Andy Burnham: The current prime minister intends to be "bolder" on EU ties and wants a national conversation about moving closer to the bloc.
Wes Streeting: The UK defence secretary affirmed that European ministers remain "united and unwavering" in their support for Ukraine.
What to Watch
- The outcome of the upcoming EU-UK summit, which will set the agenda for post-Brexit rapprochement on energy, food standards and youth mobility.
- Whether Starmer's call for a UK-centred "common security framework" is taken up by other European leaders.
- Signs of further US policy shifts on Nato and Ukraine that could accelerate the European defence realignment Starmer described.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedStarmer warned that the change in the US relationship was permanent, not an aberration of the Trump presidency.UK news | The Guardian: ““This is about responding to a permanent change of affairs, not an aberration of the Trump presidency.””
- SupportedStarmer said Europe must take far more responsibility for its own defence and security.UK news | The Guardian: ““But it does mean enabling Europe to take on far more responsibility for its own defence and security.””
- SupportedStarmer made his first significant political intervention since leaving office in July at the British Irish Chamber of Commerce.UK news | The Guardian: ““Keir Starmer has said in his first significant political intervention since leaving No 10.” “Starmer told an audience at the British Irish Chamber of Commerce on Friday.””
- SupportedStarmer said, “Things will not go back to the way they were before.”UK news | The Guardian: ““Things will not go back to the way they were before.””
- SupportedStarmer said Europe had been caught asleep twice, including when Russia’s attack on Ukraine exposed longstanding defence weaknesses.UK news | The Guardian: ““Europe has twice been caught asleep, failing to anticipate and prepare for predictable events. ‘First, when Russia’s attack on Ukraine exposed longstanding European weaknesses on defence and security””
- SupportedStarmer said Trump had made clear that the US would no longer bankroll European security.UK news | The Guardian: ““second, when President Trump made clear, once and for all, that the US will no longer bankroll our European security.””
- SupportedStarmer said the US military, security and intelligence alliance remained important.UK news | The Guardian: ““That doesn’t mean the US relationship is no longer important. On the contrary, the military, security and intelligence alliance is far too strong for that.””
- SupportedBurnham said he wanted to be “bolder” about closer ties with the EU.UK news | The Guardian: ““Soon after taking office as Starmer’s successor, Andy Burnham said that he intended to be ‘bolder’ about closer ties with the EU.””
- SupportedBurnham called for a public debate on a closer relationship with the EU after the next election.UK news | The Guardian: ““Burnham has also said he wants a public debate on how the UK could move to a closer relationship with the EU after the next election.””
- SupportedBurnham is due to attend an EU-UK summit next month focused on food standards, energy and youth mobility.UK news | The Guardian: ““Next month, Burnham will attend a crucial EU-UK summit where new agreements on food standards, energy and youth mobility will be the main focus.””
- SupportedStarmer called for “a common security framework as much as a common market” and said Britain must be central to it.UK news | The Guardian: ““a common security framework as much as a common market. The EU is changing to respond to that” “Britain must be central to that project.””
- SupportedStreeting said European defence ministers were “united and unwavering” in their support for Ukraine.UK news | The Guardian: ““At a meeting of European defence ministers in Paris this week, the defence secretary, Wes Streeting, said that they were ‘united and unwavering’ in support for Ukraine in the face of Russian hostility.””