At the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, President Donald Trump criticized Spain, Italy, and the UK for not immediately supporting the U.S. in a potential conflict with Iran, calling their response a "bad moment" but later highlighting the "tremendous unification" among NATO members.

On Sunday, the U.K.'s new Secretary of State for Defence, Wes Streeting, stated that Europe will ultimately thank President Trump for "waking up the continent from its complacency" and compelling NATO allies to assume responsibility for their own security. Speaking on Sky News, Streeting indicated a shift in the U.K.'s transatlantic stance under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, while affirming Britain's refusal to support U.S. offensive military action against Iran.

Streeting told Sky News anchor Trevor Phillips, "The first thing you do is you don't suck up, and… my impression is President Trump, his administration… that's not what they're looking for, actually."

He described Trump as "a straight talker" who "says what he means and means what he says," adding, "I don't know him, but I do trust the United States."

During his first week in office, Streeting held a call with U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth to discuss maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and broader NATO commitments, saying he was "very keen and pleased" to meet with his American counterpart.

Streeting acknowledged, "We don't always like his methods," but emphasized, "But I genuinely think when this period of history is written, Europe will thank President Trump for shaking us out of our complacency and forcing us to stand on our own two feet and end the period of overreliance on the United States for defense because what he said about Europe isn't unique to President Trump, the MAGA movement or the Republican Party."

He also noted the historic, cultural, and political uniqueness of the U.S.-U.K. alliance, driven by both self-interest and mutual shared interests.

Sources