Wes Streeting, the new UK Secretary of State for Defense, stated on Sunday, July 26th, 2026, that he is willing to work with the Trump administration on shared interests. Speaking on Sky News, Streeting described President Trump as "a straight talker" who "says what he means and means what he says."

Streeting emphasized that cooperation does not require flattery, noting, "The first thing you do is, you don’t suck up. … My impression is President Trump, his administration, that’s not what they’re looking for actually."

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who is assembling his Cabinet, is reportedly working to repair relations with the US government after Trump repeatedly criticized Burnham's predecessor, Keir Starmer. A key point of disagreement between Trump and Starmer was Starmer’s refusal to support the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran.

Streeting confirmed that the Burnham administration has not shifted its stance, telling US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week that the UK "won’t support offensive action" in Iran.

Reflecting on Trump's impact on Europe, Streeting said, "We don’t always like his methods, 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."

He added that the criticisms Trump made about Europe are not unique to him, the MAGA movement, or the Republican Party.

Sources