Keir Starmer has defended the North Atlantic Treaty Organization after Donald Trump threatened to punish Britain and other member states over tensions linked to the Iran war. The Prime Minister said the alliance remains the most effective military partnership in history and is firmly in both American and European interests, stressing that it has kept member countries far safer than they would otherwise have been.

However, he acknowledged that European nations must increase their defence contributions, echoing long standing complaints from the United States President about unequal spending. Starmer said Europe should step into a stronger role within the alliance while maintaining firm support for the collective defence pact.

The dispute comes amid growing strain over the conflict in Iran, with several European countries, including Britain, declining to back American strikes beyond defensive support. Starmer also discussed efforts to secure shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and welcomed diplomatic moves toward a temporary ceasefire, warning that the broader conflict could shape global politics for a generation.