Keir Starmer, now out of Downing Street, has taken his case for Europe to a business room in Dublin, where he argues that a shift in American reliability is no passing storm but a change in the weather itself. The old assumption that Washington would carry Europe's security has been shaken twice, first by Russia's war on Ukraine and then by a clear signal that the bills would no longer be paid, and he suggests a continent that must learn to stand more on its own feet. For Britain, which he says must sit at the centre of that effort, the question is whether it can rebuild the bridges that Brexi
Starmer Urges Closer European Ties as US Partnership Shifts Permanently
Europe has twice been caught asleep
Mark
Starmer is out of office. Why does a speech from him matter?
Mimi
Because it's the first time he's laid out his view since leaving, and it lines up with what his successor, Andy Burnham, is already doing. It suggests a direction rather than one man's opinion.
Mark
What's the core claim?
Mimi
That the shift away from reliable US backing is permanent. He says it isn't an aberration of Trump's presidency, and things won't go back to how they were.
Luke
That's his judgment, though, not an established fact. Nobody can confirm what a future US president will do.
Mimi
Fair. It's a forecast, and he presents it as one. He also says the US alliance stays important, particularly on military and intelligence.
Mark
He says Europe was caught asleep twice. Is that a criticism of his own government too?
Luke
The reporting doesn't say. He was prime minister until July, and the piece doesn't address how he squares that with his own record.
Mimi
What it does show is that he'd been arguing for closer ties before leaving, including that line about a partnership for a dangerous world.
Mark
What happens next?
Mimi
A UK-EU summit next month on food standards, energy and youth mobility. Whether it produces concrete agreements is still unknown.
Luke
And the post-election debate Burnham wants is only something he's said he wants. Nothing is decided there.
Der Puls
- Europe has been caught unprepared twice, first by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and then by Washington's refusal to keep financing its security.
- Starmer warns that the shift in US posture is permanent and will outlast Trump's presidency, leaving allies with no easy return to the old order.
- Brexit is named as having done deep damage, pushing the UK to seek closer economic and security cooperation with its neighbours.
- Successor Andy Burnham promises a bolder EU approach, with a UK-EU summit next month on food standards, energy and youth mobility as the first real test.
Keir Starmer, now out of Downing Street, has taken his case for Europe to a business room in Dublin, where he argues that a shift in American reliability is no passing storm but a change in the weather itself. The old assumption that Washington would carry Europe's security has been shaken twice, first by Russia's war on Ukraine and then by a clear signal that the bills would no longer be paid, and he suggests a continent that must learn to stand more on its own feet. For Britain, which he says must sit at the centre of that effort, the question is whether it can rebuild the bridges that Brexit damaged while keeping its older alliances intact, a test his successor has inherited.
Keir Starmer chose a business audience in Dublin for his first major political speech since leaving Downing Street. Addressing the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, the former prime minister argued that the United States is becoming an unreliable partner and that Britain and its European neighbours must draw closer together. He had met senior business and political leaders in the Irish capital, including the taoiseach, Micheál Martin, and his message was the one he has been giving across Europe: this change is not an aberration of the Trump years but a lasting turn.
He pointed to two moments when Europe was caught unready. The first was Russia's attack on Ukraine, which exposed weaknesses in European defence. The second was Trump's clear statement that the United States would no longer pay for European security. Starmer did not dismiss the American alliance, which he called far too strong to abandon, but argued that Europe must take far more responsibility for its own defence. He made the case for Britain's place at the centre of that effort, citing its nuclear capability, its role in Nato and its fighter jet programme, and noting that Ireland and the UK stand together in support of Ukraine.
He said the ties should reach beyond defence. Brexit, in his view, had done deep damage to the British economy, and the country should pursue closer economic and security cooperation. His successor, Andy Burnham, has promised a bolder approach to the EU and wants a public debate after the next election. The next test arrives next month, when Burnham attends a UK-EU summit on food standards, energy and youth mobility.
Keir Starmer chose a business audience in Dublin for his first significant political intervention since leaving No 10. Speaking on Friday to the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, the former prime minister argued that the UK and other European nations must move closer together because the United States is becoming a less-reliable partner.
He had spent time in the Irish capital meeting senior business leaders and politicians, among them the taoiseach, Micheál Martin, with whom he established the annual UK-Ireland summit. His message to the chamber, he said, was the same one he has given European leaders: this is a response to a permanent change, not an aberration of the Trump presidency. Things, in his words, will not go back to the way they were before. He warned of the threat posed by Russia, among others, and said the shift in Washington's posture is unlikely to reset when Donald Trump leaves the Oval Office.
Starmer accused Europe of having been caught asleep twice already. The first time, he said, was when Russia's attack on Ukraine exposed longstanding European weaknesses on defence and security. The second was when Trump made clear, once and for all, that the US will no longer bankroll European security. "We have to catch up," he said, adding that a stronger Europe is vital and that the UK must be at the heart of it.
He did not write off the American relationship. The military, security and intelligence alliance, he said, is far too strong for that. But he argued it does mean enabling Europe to take on far more responsibility for its own defence. He called for pan-European cooperation and coordination, a common security framework as much as a common market. The EU is changing to meet that need, he said, but it cannot be the EU alone when Europe's periphery is core to its defence.
He made the case for a central British role by listing assets: the UK is one of two nuclear powers in Europe, a leading Nato member, and home to a viable next-generation fighter jet programme. It is also pledged to work with European allies to guarantee security in Ukraine. Ireland and the UK, he noted, stand side by side in the coalition of the willing and with Ukraine.
The argument is not new for him. Starmer had called for closer European ties before stepping down as prime minister in July. Three months earlier, with Trump at war with Iran and threatening to withdraw from Nato, he described Europe as a partnership for a dangerous world that must be navigated together. On Friday he said the ties should go beyond defence. Brexit, he said, had done deep damage to the UK economy, and he wanted to be more ambitious, pursuing closer economic cooperation and closer security cooperation.
His remarks reflect a growing consensus on the left of UK politics that closer European links are essential for economic and military security. His successor, Andy Burnham, said soon after taking office that he intended to be bolder about closer ties with the EU, and has said he wants a public debate on how the UK could move to a closer relationship after the next election. This week, at a meeting of European defence ministers in Paris, the defence secretary, Wes Streeting, said they were united and unwavering in support for Ukraine in the face of Russian hostility.
The next test comes next month, when Burnham attends a crucial EU-UK summit where new agreements on food standards, energy and youth mobility are the main focus.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
This is about responding to a permanent change of affairs, not an aberration of the Trump presidency.— Keir Starmer, British Irish Chamber of Commerce
A stronger Europe is vital and the UK must be at the heart of it.— Keir Starmer
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