Starmer Urges Trump to Maintain NATO Ties

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged United States President Donald Trump on Friday to maintain commitment to NATO, asserting that the alliance serves American interests even as he called for greater European contributions to defense efforts. Speaking in Qatar at the conclusion of a three-day tour of Gulf states, Starmer responded to Trump's recent threats to withdraw from the pact, which stemmed from NATO allies' reluctance to join the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran.

Starmer's remarks followed a Thursday evening phone call with Trump, during which the leaders focused on securing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global oil and gas that Iran has restricted amid the conflict. The strait was set to reopen under a temporary two-week ceasefire announced earlier in the week, but the truce has faced challenges from ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon and Iranian warnings of retaliation. Starmer emphasized the need for a practical plan to resume navigation without tolls or restrictions, noting that Gulf leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar shared concerns over the ceasefire's fragility.