"We cannot let the challenges of the recent past define our relationships of the future," Starmer said in a Wednesday statement from Downing Street.
It comes as the specter of a second presidency from Republican candidate Donald Trump looms heavy over Europe after an assassination attempt over the weekend buoyed support for the former president.
Both Trump and his newly announced running mate JD Vance have indicated that continued support for Europe — and in particular Ukraine — are not guaranteed under a second Trump administration.
The Republican presidential nominee has repeatedly lambasted the continent's lack of defense spending, and has threatened to pull out of NATO, while Vance has shown ambivalence over U.S. intervention in foreign affairs.
In anticipation, European NATO members have been upping their defense spending, including a new commitment from Starmer to spend 2.5% of U.K. gross domestic product (GDP) on defense.
Persons:
Keir Starmer, John Healey, George Robertson, Winston Churchill's, Starmer, Donald Trump, Trump, JD Vance, Vance
Organizations:
British, Defence, Downing, Labour, European Political, Republican, Europe —, NATO
Locations:
London, England, OXFORD, Europe, Winston, Blenheim, Oxfordshire, Ukraine