The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is on his way to the Netherlands today for the NATO summit in The Hague. Analysts in London highlight that the main focus of the summit is not the ongoing war in Ukraine or the prolonged Middle East crisis, but rather the goal of raising defense spending among member states from the current 2% to 5% of GDP within the next decade.
Starmer was one of the first leaders to announce that the UK aims to boost its defense and security expenditure to reach that target by 2035, stating this is necessary “in a time of radical uncertainty.”
A spokesperson from Downing Street has confirmed that the British Prime Minister will actively advocate for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in the Middle East during the NATO summit today and tomorrow.
Additionally, the EU is expected to leverage the current diplomatic circumstances in the Middle East as much as possible in the coming days.
Despite the recent ceasefire agreement and the truce between Iran and Israel, government sources indicate that the British government remains vigilant, considering all possible scenarios in the near future. They will continue to assist British nationals seeking to exit the region.
Yesterday, the first RAF flight departed from Israel, successfully bringing home 63 Britons and their vulnerable relatives. The flight landed in Cyprus before passengers transferred to a charter flight to the UK.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy noted that more humanitarian flights are expected in the coming days, as over 1,000 Britons have requested to leave Israel, with around 4,000 British citizens currently residing there.
The Foreign Secretary described the situation as “ongoing and rapidly evolving” in the House of Commons. Consequently, a dedicated page has been created on the British government’s official website (Register Your Presence) providing guidance.
A recent YouGov poll revealed that nearly half of Britons (48%) oppose US B-2 bomber strikes on Iran, while only 22% are in favor.
During yesterday’s session in the House of Commons, the Foreign Secretary repeatedly declined to answer whether he believed the US was acting in accordance with international law.
Analysts note that while London is concerned about a nuclear-armed Iran, it has not taken a definitive stand on Washington’s military actions, refraining from condemnation to maintain its relationship with a historically important ally.
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