Streeting's remarks come amid growing strain between the US and Ukraine after the American government on Monday imposed restrictions on Kyiv's use of Starlink, the satellite communications system operated by SpaceX. The move has threatened to set back Ukraine's war effort, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying he felt betrayed by Washington's decision.
Addressing the issue directly, Streeting said the Starlink row was 'a reminder of two things — one is that American support in Ukraine has been significant and it has made, I think, a real impact in the Ukrainian war effort. And we and the Ukrainians would feel the absence of that.' He added that there was 'an enormous opportunity for the US in terms of the support for Ukraine,' referring to a future defence-industrial relationship between the countries.
The defence secretary acknowledged 'the challenges of recent days' but stressed the importance of continued US involvement. His meeting with Hegseth was expected to cover not only Ukraine but also tensions over Iran and the Middle East. Earlier this month, an Iranian threat prompted the US to withdraw B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The two men were also expected to discuss whether to jointly assist Saudi Arabia, which has come under attack from Yemen's Houthi rebels.