The Prime Minister has had little chance to ease himself into his role as international statesman; today he goes to Washington for a summit to mark the 75th anniversary of Nato. An alliance born from the necessity to defend Europe from Soviet aggression now faces the task of confronting a Russia which is engaged in an aggressive war against Ukraine. There is by no means international consensus on the issue, which now seems so straightforward in the West. The Indian prime minister’s visit to Moscow is a reminder that the global south takes a different view of it.
And that war is by no means the only momentous international threat. The conflict in Gaza, which was an issue in the general election, risks spreading into Lebanon — a potentially explosive development. Another consequence of the Palestinian conflict is the attacks by Houthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea, which has a direct effect on the prices of imports to Europe. And then there is the continued Chinese threat to Taiwan. So many perils, so many challenges to the Alliance.
