Keir Starmer goes to Washington for Nato summit on first foreign trip as UK PM

In London earlier, Starmer addressed parliament for the first time as Britain’s leader, vowing to put an end to ‘self-serving politics’

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Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer talks to journalists as he travels onboard a plane to Washington to attend a Nato summit on Tuesday. Photo: Pool via Reuters

Published: 7:16am, 10 Jul 2024Updated: 4:51pm, 10 Jul 2024

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer jetted off to Washington on Tuesday to attend Nato’s 75th anniversary summit, his first foreign trip since becoming British leader last Friday following a landslide election victory.

He will reaffirm Britain’s enduring support for the Western military alliance and Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression, he told reporters at London’s Stansted Airport.

“But today and tomorrow and the next day is all about standing together with our allies, discussing practically how we provide further support for Ukraine, and send a very, very clear message to Putin that we will stand against Russian aggression wherever it is in the world,” he said.

Starmer, 61, told a meeting of his top team that the summit represents an opportunity to “reset relationships, reinvigorate our unshakeable commitment to the alliance and demonstrate the strength of Britain on the world stage”.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer in parliament on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

The visit kicks off a whirlwind of international diplomacy in Starmer’s first two weeks in power, with the UK also hosting a European leaders’ conference next week.

“It will be an opportunity for him to learn and get to know other leaders as much as to communicate any particular messages,” foreign policy expert James Strong told Agence France-Presse.