As Iran war strains ties with Trump’s US, UK looks to Europe

Lead

Britain’s government is set to announce legislation next month to move the country closer to the European Union, as the Iran war continues to strain the UK’s so-called special relationship with the United States. According to multiple reports, US President Donald Trump’s unpredictability and sharp criticism of the historic ally are adding momentum to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s bid to deepen ties with the 27-nation bloc, a decade after Britons narrowly voted to leave the EU.

“We have a government that is already eager to move closer towards the EU, and the events in Iran provide an opportunity to speed up that process,” Evie Aspinall, director of the British Foreign Policy Group think-tank, told AFP.

Coverage Comparison

The story has been covered from somewhat different angles. ABC Australia focused on the parliamentary clash, highlighting Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey’s blistering attack on President Trump and Starmer’s defiant response, framing the episode as a sign of a deeper reassessment of the US-UK relationship. Dawn, a Pakistan-based outlet, emphasized the legislative mechanics of the EU “reset” bill and the economic pressures driving the shift, while also noting the opposition from Brexit advocates.

Both sources agree on the central facts: Starmer has refused to join the US-led military action in Iran, the UK government is preparing an EU alignment bill, and Trump’s behavior is a catalyst for the UK’s European pivot. However, ABC Australia’s tone is more analytical, with quotes from campaigners like Naomi Smith of Best for Britain, while Dawn’s reporting is more straightforwardly informative, relying on officials and experts.

Key Claims

Starmer’s stance on the Iran war: According to both ABC Australia and Dawn, Starmer has repeatedly stated that the UK will not join the conflict, calling it “not our war” and “not in our national interest.” During Prime Minister’s Questions, he said, “I’m not going to change my mind. I’m not going to yield.”

Davey’s criticism of Trump: As reported by ABC Australia, Ed Davey accused Trump of treating the UK like “a mafia boss running a protection racket,” referencing a phone call in which the president allegedly threatened to rip up the trade deal unless the UK joined the war. This claim has not been independently confirmed.

The EU reset bill: Both sources report that the government plans to introduce legislation allowing ministers to adopt EU standards on food, drink, and carbon emissions through “dynamic alignment.” This would mean UK standards can be updated to match EU rules as they evolve, without full parliamentary debate—a process that some critics say bypasses democratic scrutiny.

Farage’s opposition: Nigel Farage and the Reform UK party have branded the legislation “a betrayal” of the Brexit referendum, according to both sources. Public opinion, however, has shifted: surveys suggest most Britons now regret leaving the EU, as noted in Dawn’s report.

Economic pressures: The International Monetary Fund warned this week that the UK will be the advanced economy hardest hit by the Iran conflict, and Finance Minister Rachel Reeves has blamed rising cost-of-living pressures on Trump for starting the war “without a clear exit plan,” according to Dawn.

Perspectives

Starmer’s government: The prime minister frames the EU reset as a pragmatic move to build “economic resilience across the continent,” as a government official told AFP. He has called for a deeper UK-EU partnership on trade and security, arguing it is in the national interest.

Brexit supporters: Farage and Reform UK view the alignment bill as a betrayal of the 2016 referendum result. They argue that adopting EU rules undermines the UK’s sovereignty and independence, turning the country into a “rule-taker” without a say in EU decision-making.

Pro-European campaigners: Groups like Best for Britain see the Iran war as a wake-up call. Naomi Smith told ABC News that the crisis has made it “much more obvious to British voters that its interests lie in hugging close its European neighbors,” and that the special relationship with the US is undergoing a “fundamental reassessment.”

International observers: Experts like Evie Aspinall note that the war has “supercharged” the reset, but caution that the UK must balance its historical ties with the US and its geographic and economic links to Europe. The EU remains the UK’s largest trading partner, and the IMF’s warning underscores the economic stakes.

The legislation, expected to be announced by King Charles III on May 13, could coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum. Whether it will mend the frayed US-UK relationship or further widen the Atlantic gap remains to be seen, but the trajectory is clear: Europe is once again at the center of Britain’s foreign policy.