The ex-diplomat insisted Starmer does not have to choose between backing up European allies and pleasing the U.S. “[The government] can and needs to continue to ride both horses. It’ll be a little uncomfortable, but I don’t think we have a choice,” Westmacott said.
A No.10 official, granted anonymity like others in this piece as they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the U.K. would seek to protect existing hard-won ties with the U.S. as the PM “sees very clearly the value of that relationship to our security.”
Starmer has consistently rejected the idea that the U.K. faces a “choice” between the U.S. and Europe, and doesn’t believe a trade-off can be made in that way, the same person pointed out.
But the U.K. prime minister has been given cross-party cover to criticize Trump over his Greenland stance.
Right-wing British politicians, who would typically be allies of the Republican U.S. president, made clear their own misgivings about the prospect of tariffs on those defending Greenland.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the move is a “terrible idea” that would be “yet another burden for businesses.” Nigel Farage, a close ally of Trump, said the U.S. president’s actions are “wrong” and would be “very, very hurtful to us.”