Britain’s defence secretary, John Healey, has said the United States should judge the UK by its actions in the Gulf rather than by Donald Trump’s social media posts.
Speaking at a conference in London, Healey said the UK’s recent efforts in the region “spoke for themselves”. He argued that Britain’s military bases and wider contribution had been invaluable to the US, and that the country’s role in the Gulf should be the basis for any American assessment of its worth.
The remarks came as Keir Starmer flew back to the UK after a trip that included discussions with Trump about keeping the strait of Hormuz open. During the same visit, Starmer also met leaders in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
Healey’s comments underlined the government’s emphasis on the practical importance of the UK’s military and diplomatic footprint in the region. The defence secretary framed Britain’s involvement as something that could be judged by its effect on events in the Gulf, rather than through online commentary from the US president.
The strait of Hormuz remains a strategically significant waterway, and keeping it open was one of the issues discussed during Starmer’s trip. The talks formed part of broader engagement with Gulf states and Washington at a moment when the region continues to be central to international security concerns.
Healey did not present the UK’s case in abstract terms, instead focusing on recent actions and their visible results. His comments suggested that the government wants US leaders to look at Britain’s contribution on the ground, including the role of its military infrastructure, rather than treating political messaging on social media as a measure of alliance value.
The defence secretary’s intervention also reflected the wider diplomatic effort surrounding the Gulf, where British ministers have sought to maintain close ties with both the US and regional partners. With Starmer having met leaders across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, the government has been signalling continued engagement with key allies in the area.
Healey’s message was straightforward: when the US considers Britain’s importance, it should focus on what the UK has done in the Gulf. In his view, those actions are the clearest evidence of Britain’s contribution.
