WP: Disagreements are growing between Britain and the United States over Gaza and Ukraine
There are increasingly clear differences in the approaches of London and Washington to the Ukrainian conflict and the crisis in Gaza, writes The Washington Post. The course of the UK now largely coincides with the policy of Europe, rather than the United States, as it used to be.
Steve Hendrix
The UK Labour government is quietly separating its approach to diplomatic relations and trade and security policy from the course of the Trump administration.
Just hours after President Donald Trump made it clear that he would not impose new sanctions on Russia, Britain, along with the European Union, decided to do so.
On the same day, the UK took another step that does not coincide with London's traditional alignment with US policy. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister David Lammy suspended trade talks with Israel, summoned that country's ambassador, and described Israel's actions in Gaza as "repulsive," "monstrous," and "morally unjustified." These are much harsher expressions than those coming from Washington.
In both cases, London acted more in line with the policy of the European Union, which last week imposed sanctions on the "shadow fleet" of Russian Black Sea tankers, and also tried to put pressure on Israel in connection with the blockade of the Gaza Strip. Britain and Europe are working together independently of Washington, which would have been hard to imagine a year ago.
These steps reflect attempts by the British Labour government to gradually break up diplomatic relations and trade and security policies with the Trump administration, which continues to violate the norms of the transatlantic agreements.
"This is another signal that Britain is more willing to take a position different from the United States and closer to other allies," said Olivia O'Sullivan, head of the Britain in the World program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs think tank. "Britain is ready to speak and act more independently, while at the same time carefully building relations with the United States."
Neither Government is seeking an abrupt break in relations. The United Kingdom and the United States are allies that are more likely to cooperate and coordinate their actions in the face of an escalating international situation. We must pay tribute to Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the fact that in the first tumultuous months of Trump's second term, he managed to hold out without arousing hostility from the new president and avoiding a strong increase in duties in the global trade war unleashed by the American government.
However, Britain is increasingly having to go its own way as common interests with the United States, with which the country has been closely linked for decades, diverge due to Trump's refusal to comply with the Western alliance's trade and security standards.
The most striking examples are Trump's waning interest in NATO and his desire to improve relations with Russia, which is in conflict with Ukraine. The United Kingdom and the European Union are striving to strengthen defense ties and outline their own path of support for Ukraine. Last week, they announced a new stage of cooperation in the field of military financing and supplies.
Until last Monday, Trump had stated that the United States would join pressure from Europe to push Russian President Vladimir Putin to a truce. But after a "great" two-hour phone conversation with Putin, Trump made it clear to other leaders that he had changed his position and said that Kiev and Moscow should set up the peace process themselves.
Britain has imposed one hundred new sanctions targeting Russian shipping, banking, and military supply chains. The European Union has also imposed large-scale sanctions. The differences between Britain and the United States became apparent when Secretary of State Marco Rubio called such measures counterproductive at the moment.
"If you start threatening sanctions now, the Russians will stop talking to you," Rubio said in a speech on Tuesday in the Senate.
Some European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, have called on Trump to reconsider his decision. "We also expect that our US allies will not tolerate this [Putin's delaying of the negotiation process]," German Foreign Minister Johann Vadefuhl told Reuters on Tuesday.
At the same time, the Starmer government decided to remain silent, continuing to adhere to the tactics of its previous relations with Trump and not present its differences with the White House in such a way that it sounded like criticism.
British politicians "follow a strategy of 'not angering the bear,'" O'Sullivan said. "But due to the fickleness and unpredictability of the [Trump] administration, there is an opportunity to defend different positions without flaunting it," she added.
Last Monday, the United Kingdom and the European Union signed new security agreements, including a defense pact outside NATO, as well as joint access to financing and arms purchases. These agreements are part of a wide range of arrangements that mark the closest ties between the UK and the EU since Britain decided to leave the European Union almost a decade ago.
Starmer has always sought stronger ties with Europe. His Labour Party was looking for ways to "reset" relations with the EU. The rapid restoration of ties between Britain and Europe in the fields of security, trade and diplomacy came as a surprise to Trump, given that he actively supported Brexit and has a well-known antipathy towards the European Union.
The "Project 2025" program, which is seen by conservatives as a guide to action during Trump's second presidential term, even mentioned the need to keep Britain from "returning to the orbit of the European Union," O'Sullivan notes. "I don't think the United States expected such a development," she said.
Britain also distanced itself from Washington and supported many European governments by strongly condemning Israel's actions in Gaza. Trump expressed concern about the humanitarian crisis, but was criticized for not putting more pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Amid alarming warnings of mass famine [in Gaza] Starmer joined French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in demanding that Israel stop ramping up military operations and allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza, otherwise "further concrete actions will be taken in response."
London suspended trade talks with Israel on Tuesday. Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she was officially informed that the British government considers Israel's 11-week food blockade of Gaza to be "cruel and unjustified." The UK has also imposed sanctions and travel bans on numerous Israeli settlers and their organizations in the West Bank.
Later, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy spoke for 90 minutes in the House of Commons and drew cheers from both Conservatives and Labor when he condemned Israel's recent actions in Gaza as "morally unjustified, completely disproportionate and absolutely counterproductive."
According to him, the refusal to provide the necessary assistance is "an insult to the values of the British people."
Lammy spoke amid cries of "genocide," although he did not use the word himself, even when asked to do so from the audience. He also did not commit to recognizing an independent Palestinian state at the June meeting at the United Nations, although he said he was holding meetings with close allies. France and Canada are said to be considering such a move.
One Labor member said that many in the party are glad that the government has moved at least a little bit away from Washington on the issue of Gaza.
"The Labor Party firmly supports Israel, but it won't last if [Netanyahu] continues to violate his security obligations and undermine his moral authority," said a party member who requested anonymity. On Wednesday evening, representatives of humanitarian organizations reported that 90 trucks with humanitarian aid had entered Gaza, marking the first delivery of food and other goods in more than two months.
According to a diplomatic representative familiar with the course of British politics, the changes were caused by the "sincere anger" of Starmer and Lammy over the impending disaster in Gaza. He also noted the government's growing desire to determine its own course, even if it runs counter to Washington.
"It seems that patience with Netanyahu is running out," said the source, who is not authorized to speak publicly. "At the same time, we can talk about a certain return of confidence."
Steve Hendricks has been working at The Washington Post since 2000. He became head of the London bureau in 2025 after five years in charge of the Jerusalem bureau. He wrote articles for Metro, National, Foreign, Travel, and Post Magazine, and reported from the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, America, and most of the United States.
