The UK has urged the United States to assess its contribution in the Gulf based on tangible military support rather than political rhetoric, as tensions continue in the Middle East.
Speaking at a conference in London, Defence Secretary John Healey said Britain’s actions in the region “spoke for themselves”, amid ongoing scrutiny from Donald Trump.
“Even in this current conflict, the basing permissions that we in the UK have agreed with the US have been invaluable to their military operations,” Healey said. He added: “If we focus on our actions rather than just simply the exchange of words and social media posts, then the fundamentals for me remain.”
The comments come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer returned from a diplomatic tour of the Gulf, where discussions focused on maintaining stability and securing vital shipping routes.
A key priority has been safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies.
Before a ceasefire announced by Trump, described by Starmer as “fragile”, the UK led talks with military planners from 35 nations on securing the strait, including plans to remove potential threats such as naval mines.
Starmer also revealed details of a recent call with the US president: “I had a discussion with President Trump last night and set out to him the views of the region here. These Gulf states are the neighbours of Iran, and therefore, if the ceasefire is to hold – and we hope it will – it has to involve them.”
He added: “We spent most of the time on the call talking about the practical plan that’s going to be needed to get navigation through the strait and the role that the UK is playing.”
The UK has also raised concerns about maintaining free navigation through the strait, warning against any potential restrictions or financial levies on passing ships.
“There can’t be tolling or restrictions on that navigation,” Starmer said, reflecting the shared concerns of Gulf leaders.
The ceasefire remains uncertain, with ongoing tensions in the region and fears of further escalation involving Iran and neighbouring countries.
The debate comes amid renewed pressure from Washington on NATO allies, with Trump criticising what he sees as insufficient support during the Iran conflict.
Reports suggest the US is considering reviewing alliance members’ contributions, raising questions about future cooperation.
Starmer acknowledged the need for European allies to increase their efforts but defended the importance of the alliance.
“We’re very strong supporters of Nato and I’ve been making the argument for some considerable time that we need to do more,” he said.
“It’s the single most effective military alliance the world has ever known.”
He added: “Nato is a defensive alliance, which for decades has kept us much safer than we would otherwise have been.”