Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed Donald Trump's revelation that he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of Nato as “noise”.
The US President described the military alliance as a “paper tiger” and said he had long held doubts about its credibility.
“Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration,” Mr Trump told the Telegraph when asked whether he would reconsider the US’s Nato membership after the Middle East conflict.
“I was never swayed by Nato. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.”
The interview was published on Wednesday as Trump prepared to deliver an address to the nation on the Iran war and ahead of Sir Keir’s press conference on the economic impact of the conflict.
The Prime Minister said he will act in the British national interest “whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise” and vowed closer ties with European nations.
Asked about Trump’s latest remarks on the transatlantic military alliance, Sir Keir said: “Firstly, Nato is the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen, and it has kept us safe for many decades, and we are fully committed to Nato.
“Secondly, that whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I'm going to act in the British national interest in all the decisions that I make.
“And that's why I've been absolutely clear that this is not our war and we're not going to get dragged into it.
“But I'm equally clear that, when it comes to defence and security and our economic future, we have to have closer ties with Europe. That's why we had the summit last year.
“This year, as I've just announced, there'll be a further summit. There, we will make good on equipment that we put in place last year, but we will also go further in relation to the alignment.”
The White House has announced that Mr Trump will give an “important update on Iran” in a national address at 9pm EDT on Wednesday (2am BST on Thursday).
It came after the President signalled he will end his war with Iran “soon” - even if Tehran fails to agree to a deal.
“We’ll be leaving very soon,” he told reporters at the White House on Tuesday night, saying the exit could take place “within two weeks, maybe two weeks, maybe three.”
Asked if successful diplomacy was a prerequisite for the US to end what it calls Operation Epic Fury, Trump said it was not.
“Iran doesn’t have to make a deal, no,” he said. “No, they don’t have to make a deal with me.”
Trump’s comments triggered a sharp fall in the price of oil. The price of a barrel of Brent Crude dropped from $119 to below $104 in just 45 minutes.
Washington had previously threatened to intensify operations if Tehran did not accept a 15-point US ceasefire framework that had among its core demands that Iran commit not to pursue nuclear weapons, halt all uranium enrichment and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump’s Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, told Fox News Channel’s Hannity programme there was potential for a meeting between both sides “at some point” and the United States could “see the finish line”.
“It’s not today, it’s not tomorrow, but it is coming,” Mr Rubio added.
Still, the conflict continued on Wednesday with attacks reported on both sides. Drones hit fuel tanks at Kuwait’s international airport causing a big blaze and authorities in Bahrain reporting a fire at an undisclosed company facility from an Iranian attack.
A tanker was hit by an unknown projectile near the Qatari capital Doha causing damage to the hull at the waterline, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said, adding the crew were safe.
Explosions were heard in multiple areas of Tehran early Wednesday after US-Israeli air attacks, Iranian state media reported, adding that its air defences were activated. Shahid Haghani Port, Iran’s largest passenger terminal located in Bandar Abbas port on the Gulf, was hit by an overnight air strike but there were no casualties, the deputy governor Ahmad Nafisi told state media, calling it a “criminal” attack against civilian infrastructure.
Since fighting began in Iran, oil prices have soared in response to Tehran’s block on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Families with a 55-litre diesel car face paying more than £100 at the pump for the first time since December 2022.
It comes as Trump alleged on his Truth Social platform that the UK was among several countries which “can’t get jet fuel” ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend - a claim which industry body Airlines UK has refuted.
The US president said the UK and other countries which did not take part in strikes against Iran should secure the Strait of Hormuz themselves.
The US president wrote online: “All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us.”
RAC figures on Tuesday showed average diesel prices at UK forecourts were 182.8p per litre, up 40p since the start of the conflict, which brought the cost of filling up a 55-litre family car to £100.52.
The average cost of petrol is 152.8p per litre, an increase of 20p since the war began.
