Sir Keir Starmer has criticised Donald Trump's stance on NATO defence spending and climate change, warning that the former US president's approach undermines Western unity. The Labour leader accused Trump of weakening the alliance by questioning the value of collective defence and prioritising trade disputes over security commitments.
Trump, who previously clashed with German Chancellor Angela Merkel over Russia and defence budgets, has long argued that NATO members must increase their spending to 2% of GDP. Starmer countered that such demands risk fracturing the alliance and playing into Russian hands, emphasising that NATO's strength lies in solidarity.
On climate, Starmer highlighted the contrast between Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the UK's net-zero ambitions. He urged the US to rejoin global efforts to tackle climate change, describing it as a shared security challenge.
The exchange comes ahead of a NATO summit where defence spending and transatlantic relations are expected to dominate discussions. Starmer's remarks reflect growing concern among European leaders about the reliability of US commitments under a potential future Trump administration.
