UK Seeks to Mend Relations with US

London (ANTARA) - Britain is attempting to restore relations with the United States, which deteriorated during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s tenure, by exploring cooperation to reopen 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 through the Strait of Hormuz despite a request from US President Donald Trump.

Trump subsequently said he would seriously consider withdrawing the United States from NATO if the alliance refused to assist the US in operations against Iran.

Defence Secretary Streeting is reportedly working to repair relations between Britain and Trump through cooperation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and a pledge to modernise the armed forces, The Telegraph said.

The report, citing sources close to Streeting, revealed that the British Defence Secretary has held talks with US War Secretary Pete Hegseth, during which they discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

In those talks, Streeting and Hegseth discussed the possibility of holding a conference in London to build an international coalition to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

They were also reported to have discussed Britain’s defence spending commitments to NATO.

President Trump has repeatedly criticised his European partners for what he regards as their low contributions to NATO’s defence capabilities. He has demanded that they increase defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP.

A report by The Times in February revealed that senior NATO figures were dissatisfied with the slow growth of Britain’s defence spending commitments.

Source: Sputnik