Donald Trump’s noise around pulling the US out of Nato should not sway Britain
The US-Iran war is fraught with danger and the Prime Minister is right to take a cautious approach. While in the past it would be a given that Britain would stand shoulder to shoulder in conflict, the war in the Middle East was one that the US did not consult its allies on. Nor, under Donald Trump, can the US be relied upon as a trusted partner.
The fact that so many other European nations have not succumbed to the US President’s demands and largely stayed out of the conflict suggests that Sir Keir Starmer has thus far been vindicated.
The PM has dismissed Trump’s latest comments as “noise” after the US president said he is considering pulling out of Nato.
While criticism from Trump would suggest Britain’s special relationship is on rocky ground, it is essential to remember that this is a tempestuous US President, who has aimed barbs at everyone, friend or foe.
Even Gulf states have been pilloried by Trump in recent days, despite them feeling the brunt of Iranian retaliation.
What is important is not the fiery rhetoric being spat out in front of the cameras but rather what the PM and his team are doing behind the scenes to maintain the special relationship between the two countries.
This conflict has already proven the need to engage with the President’s interlocutors. It is also worth remembering that there will come a time when Trump is no longer US President and that the special relationship has endured for decades.
However, the threats made to Nato show the need for Britain and other Western allies to become less dependent on the US. That begins by refusing to be bullied into a potential ‘forever war’ that the current US President did not think through and is now demanding others shoulder the burden for.