Starmer Urges Europe to Boost NATO Defense

0:00On April 10th, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer just wrapped a big golf tour, hitting up Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar. He's pushing hard for the U.S. to stick with NATO, calling it the world's top military alliance. With the Iran war heating things up, Starmer says Europe has to step up its game on defense spending to keep things solid. Trump's been blasting European NATO allies for sitting out the strikes on Iran, and even floating pulling the U.S. out. Starmer agrees Europe needs the pony up more cash and effort. He's been saying it for two years straight, but he insists staying in NATO serves America's interests, too, keeping everyone safer from threats. Folks are reacting strong to all this. Starmer and Trump talk Thursday night, zeroing in on the shaky ceasefire and making sure the straight of Hormuz stays open for oil and goods. No tolls from Iran, no blocks, that's the line, especially after Trump tossed around a wild joint venture idea with them. UK Defense Secretary John Healey's keeping it real, telling the U.S. to look past Trump's

1:04tweets and see Britain's moves. The U.K. skipped the Iran attacks but shot down drones and missiles defending Gulf states, plus open bases for U.S. ops. Actions over words, he says, as tensions simmer in the Gulf, Starmer's betting on a beefed-up European role in NATO to lock in that stability. Europe's already moving that way, coordinating tight with allies to handle whatever comes next.