Sir Keir Starmer (right) meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Munich Security Conference. Photo: Tom Pullen/Tom Pullen
Sir Keir Starmer slammed Donald Trump over the presidential candidate's «bad faith» criticism of NATO members.
The Labor Party leader told The Telegraph that he was alone at the meeting alone in Munich On Saturday, along with world leaders, he vowed to “stand up for our allies” if he wants to become prime minister.
The Labor leader used the Munich security conference to reassure leaders including Olaf Scholz, Jens Stoltenberg and Ursula von der Leyen that he would seek to «rebuild, renew and resource» the NATO alliance rather than «divide and threaten», in thin format. a veiled reference to the former US president's warning that he «will not defend» countries that cannot «pay [their] bills.»
He warned that the death of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader, in an Arctic prison demonstrated the need to “work together.”
The rebuke of Trump is likely to be met by European leaders, including Stoltenberg, the NATO chief and former Norwegian prime minister, who last week warned that any suggestion by NATO allies not to defend each other «undermines all our security.» .
Sir Keir Starmer has rebuked Donald Trump for his comments about NATO. Photo: Manuel Balche Seneta/AP
But it threatens to start a dispute with the former president, who has about 45 percent of the US vote ahead of Joe Biden, months before the two front-runners face elections to lead their countries.
Speaking to The Telegraph After meetings with more than a dozen leaders and foreign ministers in Munich, Sir Keir said: «I have made it clear to leaders that the Britain I lead will always protect our allies, even when others threaten not to.» /p>
In a thinly veiled rebuke of Mr. Trump's recent comments about NATO, he went on to say that when it comes to future threats, “we must rebuild, renew and resource, not divide and threaten. Unscrupulous policies put our security at risk.”
Members of Sir Keir's inner circle have been vocal critics of Mr Trump in the past, but his senior team have become more cautious in their comments as the US election approaches.
Last month David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary who was in Munich with Sir Keir this weekend, dropped past comments in which he called Trump a «misogynistic neo-Nazi». «sympathetic sociopath» and insisted: «If I have the honor of becoming Foreign Secretary, my job will be to represent the national interests of this country.»
Despite Sir Keir's rebuke, the Labor leader insisted in an interview with the BBC that if elected he would «deal with whoever the American people choose as their president.»
The Labor leader with Germany's Olaf Scholz at the Munich Security Conference. Photo: Tom Pullen/Tom Pullen
Speaking at a rally in Conway, South Carolina, last week, Trump recounted a conversation with an unnamed NATO leader who confronted him over his threat not to protect members who had not met the transatlantic alliance's defense spending targets. Mr. Trump said he told the participant that if he did, he would “encourage” Russia to do as it wishes.
“You didn't pay? Are you a criminal?» Trump said. “No, I wouldn't defend you. In fact, I would tell them to do whatever the hell they want. You have to pay. You have to pay your bills.»
Sir Keir said that under a Labor government, «Britain will be reunited, NATO will be protected and democracy will be strengthened» as part of a plan to prioritize economic growth both to improve domestic living standards and to enable Britain to rise to our role in an unstable world. «.
He also condemned the Conservatives' «degradation of the British armed forces» after a House of Commons defense committee report concluded the Armed Forces would not be prepared to fight a prolonged war with Russia. The current situation «is a shameful indictment of the Tories' short-sighted policies and refusal to take off their blinders in the face of deteriorating global security,» he said.
In meetings with leaders and foreign ministers including Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, and Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of Estonia, Sir Keir outlined Labor's plans to work with allies to protect democracies, including by tackling disinformation and «hybrid threats». It promises to create a joint UK-US Center for Democratic Resilience, designed to focus on defending democratic values and institutions.
The Labor Party will “reunite Britain on the global stage, bringing leadership, energy and ambition to tackle growing threats,” said Sir Keir.
He added: “I pay tribute to Navalny’s enormous courage in the fight for truth and democracy. . The Russian threat is expanding through kleptocracy, corruption and war. This is a generational security challenge that will require a long-term response, as well as a flexible response in the way we work with our allies.
“When we pay tribute to Alexei Navalny, let it be not only in words, but and in practice. We must work together to ensure change is his legacy.»
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron called on G7 leaders to introduce new measures against Russia, hinting that the UK was developing new sanctions.
He told Sky News: «When such horrendous human rights violations occur, there must be consequences.» The UK will consider «whether there are any individual measures… we can take» and «I encourage others to do the same.»
NATO members are currently struggling to meet the spending plan for defense for the July summit in the United States.
UK government sources said European members would need to turn up to NATO's 75th anniversary summit with a commitment to spend £2 on each summit. percent of GDP for defense.
Mr Lammy is expected to tell delegates in Munich on Sunday that Labor “understands” US calls “for a fairer sharing of the Western security burden”. He is expected to say: «The next Labor government is prepared to conduct these difficult negotiations with seriousness and respect to ensure the security of NATO and Europe in the face of 21st century threats.»
Meanwhile, in a meeting with Mr. Joy von der Leyen Sir Keir «reiterated that while his Labor government will not seek to rejoin the customs union or the single market, he still believes in a strong partnership for economic value and internal security,» a Labor source said. . The pair agreed to “continue dialogue in the coming months.”
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