UK Seeks to Mend Relations with US

The United Kingdom is seeking to restore relations with the United States, which had deteriorated under the leadership of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, by exploring cooperation to open the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by The Telegraph. In March, The Telegraph reported that Starmer refused to deploy warships to restore shipping in the Strait of Hormuz despite a request from US President Donald Trump. Trump subsequently said he would seriously consider withdrawing the US from NATO if the alliance refused to assist the US in operations against Iran. Defence Secretary Streeting is reportedly attempting to mend relations between the UK and Trump through cooperation on opening the Strait of Hormuz and a pledge to modernise the armed forces, The Telegraph said. The report, citing a source close to Streeting, revealed that the UK Defence Secretary has held discussions with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, during which they discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. In the discussions, Streeting and Hegseth talked about the possibility of holding a conference in London to rally an international coalition to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. They also reportedly discussed the UK’s defence spending commitment to NATO. President Trump has repeatedly criticised his European partners for their perceived low contributions to NATO defence capabilities, demanding they increase defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. A report by The Times in February revealed that NATO officials were dissatisfied with the slow growth of the UK’s defence spending commitment.