Starmer says won't be bullied by US

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed US President Donald Trump's revelation that he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of Nato as "noise".

The prime minister said he will act in the British national interest "whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise" and vowed closer ties with European nations.

Asked about Trump's latest remarks on the transatlantic military alliance, Sir Keir said: "Firstly, Nato is the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen, and it has kept us safe for many decades, and we are fully committed to Nato.

"Secondly, that whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I'm going to act in the British national interest in all the decisions that I make.

"And that's why I've been absolutely clear that this is not our war and we're not going to get dragged into it.

"But I'm equally clear that, when it comes to defence and security and our economic future, we have to have closer ties with Europe. That's why we had the summit last year.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday that the global instability caused by the Iran war means Britain should align more closely with European allies on security and economy, following repeated criticism from US President Donald Trump.

At a press conference aimed at easing public concern over rising costs, Starmer said the impact of the war would "define us for a generation" and could be similar to the increase in energy prices in the 1970s.

Starmer outlined plans for another summit with the European Union in the coming weeks that he said he hoped would undo some of the "deep damage" done by Brexit.