- Keir Starmer said the UK will not be drawn into the Middle East conflict.
- He stressed decisions will be guided solely by British national interest.
- Starmer also reaffirmed support for NATO amid rising geopolitical
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the ongoing war between the US-Israel and Iran in the Middle East is "not our war" while addressing the nation on Wednesday. He asserted that the UK's best interests are the only priority, but clarified that this does not mean it is standing aside.
Starmer said the UK can't be dragged into the war, addressing a press conference at Downing Street, “Let me say once again, this is not our war. We will not be drawn into the conflict that is not in our national interests.”
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We will be defined by our ability to stand up for British interests in this volatile world.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 1, 2026
To make our country more secure and resilient.
To give working people a fairer deal and deliver more opportunities for their children.
Despite the pressure on him as a leader of a key NATO member state amid the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran, Starmer stated, "Whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I am going to act in the British national interest in all decisions that I make. That's why I have been absolutely clear that this is not our war, and we are not going to get dragged into it."
Starmer defended NATO as the most successful military alliance in history. This was a response to Donald Trump, who recently criticised the group and called it a "paper tiger".
He further said that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will discuss the urgent goal of reopening the Strait of Hormuz by hosting an international summit, in which he will draft the strategy for freedom of shipping passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
"I do have to level with people, this will not be easy," he said to UK citizens. Adding he won't ask the public to endure a crisis only to return to the same old way, "I am not prepared to ask the British people, once again, to go through a crisis, come out of it, and say business as usual, back to the status quo.”
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He emphasised that building strong bonds with European allies isn't just about being polite, it is vital to Britain's national interest as the crisis worsens.
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