EThere couldn’t have been a more symbolic snapshot. In early June, Western heads of government met in Normandy, France to commemorate D-Day 80 years ago. However, one head of government was notable for his absence: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak left the commemoration early to campaign in Great Britain. Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labor Party, stayed until the end and took a photo opportunity with high-profile politicians such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The different emphasis the two British chief politicians place on their country’s foreign policy proved interesting. While Starmer has been tireless in insisting that Britain should play a “larger role on the world stage” under his leadership, conservative Chung prefers to focus on domestic politics.
An opportunity for Starmer to set a foreign policy tone may soon emerge. Great Britain has a general election on July 4, with the Social Democrats leading the polls and some experts predicting an outright majority. From this strengthened position, Starmer – despite Brexit – will soon seek to play a key role in shaping European policy on migration and Ukraine. In early July, he could explain how he envisions Europe’s future at a NATO summit in Washington and a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in London.
Given the growing threat from Russia, whose president Vladimir Putin continues to wage war against Ukraine and has ambitions to expand westward, Europe is currently debating how to strengthen its own security infrastructure. Also causing tension is US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who, if re-elected, has indicated that he does not want to protect NATO countries in an emergency. Labor can provide answers here.
Great Britain is not only one of the strongest powers in Europe, but also the second largest European supporter of Ukraine after Germany, with €8.8 billion in military aid, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel). billion euros). John Healy, the MP who has been nominated for the post of defense minister, said Britain’s “resoluteness to stand by Ukraine” will “change nothing” even under a Labor government.
Keir Starmer (age 61)
What: REUTERS
London may gain prominence in continental security policy when it comes to nuclear deterrence. Along with France, Great Britain is the only European country with its own nuclear arsenal. Unlike his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, he is committed to NATO membership and the British “Trident” nuclear program.
The Social Democrats want to promote cooperation on security issues with the EU. At the Munich Security Conference in early February, which according to British media reports, Starmer was the first Labor leader to attend in 14 years, according to the “Policy Mogul” site, he said: “Britain and the EU face the same threats: not only increasing Russian aggression, but also instability in the Middle East, the climate crisis. and the global health crisis.
The “European-British Defense Agreement” aimed to remedy the situation, providing for closer operational cooperation between the armed forces and cooperation in arms production.
Starmer is likely to stay away from Sunak for the Middle East clash. On the one hand, the party under his leadership is trying to appear pro-Israel, distancing itself from the intra-party anti-Semitism scandal involving predecessor Jeremy Corbyn. On the other hand, given the growing number of victims in Gaza, it is increasingly alienating British Muslims and antagonizing the pro-Palestinian party base.
A development that will create tension within the party as elections approach and will affect the party’s foreign policy stance on the Gaza issue. The direction of travel was very clear at the start of the conflict. After the October 7 massacre, the party declared allegiance to Israel and the right to self-defense.
In February, however, Labor changed its stance – at least at the urging of British Muslims – in favor of an “immediate ceasefire” – a shift many Western countries are making in light of the escalation in the Gaza Strip. Campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden promised the party would make the well-being of the Palestinian people a “high foreign policy priority” if it wins the election.
In Brussels, politicians are cautiously optimistic about Starmer’s entry into Downing Street. While post-Brexit relations between the EU and London were neutral under a Conservative government, rapprochement is expected under Labour. While the Labor leader and his party are pro-EU, Starmer voted against Brexit in 2016 and has since campaigned for a second referendum.
“Practical Relations” with the European Union
Re-entry into the EU, a return to the single market or a customs union are not up for debate. Instead, Labor is seeking a “practical relationship” with the EU, explained David Lammy, the next foreign secretary. The Social Democrats want new deals with the EU that would ease trade between the bloc and Great Britain, boosting the battered economy. “Labour wants as close a relationship as possible with the EU, but without freedom of movement,” Bronwen Maddox explains to WELT. Chatham House, head of the British think tank, doubts it will go down well in Brussels.
“Brussels is sensitive to countries that want to benefit from the single market but reject its rules. “With France and Germany currently too busy with internal affairs, the British government will find it difficult to focus on its plans.”
It is clear on migration policy that Starmer is prepared to make concessions. The island is on its own when it comes to dealing with illegal immigrants, as the Dublin deal to help migrants return will no longer apply to Great Britain after Brexit. The EU has so far refused to take back migrants arriving by boat to the UK, mainly via France. Last year, Starmer floated the idea of ​​a “quid pro quo” migration deal with Brussels, under which illegal immigrants staying in Great Britain could be sent back to the EU, in exchange for London accepting immigrants with the right to stay.
He wants to work more closely with the EU law enforcement agency Europol to put an end to criminal trafficking gangs. He wants to overturn the conservatives’ Rwandan law, which provides for the deportation of illegal immigrants to the East African country and has now been approved by the European Union. The Labor leader is in a race against time when it comes to immigration. Since his tenure begins, he will face the glorious legacy of the previous government. In the first six months of the year, 11,000 people crossed the English Channel into the UK, a new record.
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