Keir Starmer has said it is in the best interests of the United States to remain in Nato, as he urged European members to do more to support the alliance in the wake of the war in Iran.
The British prime minister made the remarks at the end of a multi-stop trip around the Gulf, where he discussed the fragile ceasefire and possible ways to fully reopen the commercially important Strait of Hormuz.
His comments amounted to a direct pushback against Donald Trump’s threats to leave the defence alliance. Starmer did not suggest that Nato was facing immediate collapse, but he stressed that the alliance remains valuable to the US and that European partners should take on a greater share of the burden.
The backdrop to his intervention is the wider instability created by the conflict in Iran, which has raised concerns across the region and among western governments. The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping route, has become a central issue because of its importance to global commerce and energy supplies.
Starmer’s message combined two strands: defending the continued relevance of Nato to the United States and pressing European allies to strengthen their contribution. That position reflects growing pressure on European governments to do more as security concerns increase.
The prime minister’s remarks came as part of a broader diplomatic effort during his Gulf visit, where the ceasefire and maritime access were among the key topics under discussion. The trip underlined the extent to which the conflict has spilled into wider international diplomacy, with allies seeking to stabilise the situation and limit disruption to trade.
Trump’s threats to leave Nato have long unsettled European capitals, and Starmer’s intervention was intended to counter that uncertainty. By framing continued US membership as being in American interests, he sought to reinforce the argument that Nato remains a vital security arrangement for both sides of the Atlantic.
At the same time, Starmer’s call for European members to contribute more suggests that any effort to preserve alliance unity will also depend on a rebalancing of responsibilities. In the context of the Iran war and the uncertain ceasefire, that message is likely to resonate across European defence circles.
For now, Starmer’s position is clear: Nato should remain intact, the United States should stay within it, and Europe must step up as the alliance faces renewed geopolitical strain.
