Despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s concerted efforts to cultivate a strong relationship with Donald Trump, the recent U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites underscores the dwindling impact of British diplomacy on critical global issues.
Since taking office last year, Starmer has actively sought to build rapport with the U.S. President. This approach has seen some successes, including Starmer’s role as a “bridge” between the U.S. and Europe on the Ukraine war and the easing of some U.S. trade tariffs on British goods following the G7 summit. Trump himself has even expressed unexpected warmth towards Starmer, remarking at their G7 meeting, “We’ve become friends in a short period of time.”
However, this supposed camaraderie appeared to hold little sway when Trump opted for military action against Iran this past weekend, seemingly disregarding European calls for de-escalation and renewed diplomacy.
British Calls for De-escalation Ignored
The UK government has consistently advocated for de-escalation in Iran, yet these pleas went unheeded. At the G7 summit, Starmer maintained there was no indication of impending direct missile attacks. Even as late as Friday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with U.S. officials, believing Trump favored a diplomatic solution over strikes. Just hours later, the strikes commenced.
This action has led to questions about the “E3” group (UK, Germany, and France), which was instrumental in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Experts like Sanam Vakil of Chatham House suggest the U.S. strikes highlight the “declining if not peripheral influence of the E3 in nuclear diplomacy.” She added that European leaders were “largely sidelined” in nuclear talks, with their calls for restraint “overshadowed by decisive U.S. military action taken without their consultation.”
“Solely Down to the Whim of Trump”
A former British government adviser familiar with Trump’s approach stated that the weekend’s action was “solely down to the whim of Trump, and everyone’s influence is limited.” They added, “He won’t be listening to any allies so even if we do have a better relationship than others, in reality that means nothing.”
Even Conservative former defense secretary Grant Shapps sharply criticized Starmer, calling him “impotent” on the international stage, arguing that predicting an outcome that then proves false weakens a leader’s position.
UK Officials Defend Influence
Despite the criticism, UK officials strongly refute suggestions of waning influence. The Prime Minister’s spokesperson confirmed Starmer spoke to Trump on Sunday and that the “U.K. was given notice about the U.S. action, as you’d expect from a close ally.”
One British diplomat maintained that a negotiated solution was Trump’s “preferred outcome” and that the Iranians “had multiple chances and squandered them.” They added that the E3 had been trying to convince Iran that the Americans were serious about a deal. A second British diplomat emphasized ongoing engagement with all parties, including “messages to regional partners to urge restraint and get back to talks.”
Ultimately, in this complex geopolitical landscape, the UK appears to be primarily functioning as a go-between rather than a decisive influencer, a role it is actively pursuing.
