LONDON — In a recent address, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair urged current Labour leader Keir Starmer to refrain from implementing retaliatory tariffs in response to President Donald Trump’s 10 percent tariffs on all British exports to the United States. Blair, who served as Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007, emphasized that an antagonistic approach would not serve the United Kingdom’s interests.
“I don’t think it is in the U.K.’s best interest to retaliate,”
Blair made these remarks while speaking to students at King’s College London, where he commended Starmer’s composed reaction to the new tariffs. His views reflect a desire to maintain constructive relations between the U.K. and the U.S., often referred to as the special relationship.
Efforts to reach a trade agreement
In light of the tariff situation, British ministers have asserted their commitment to negotiating an economic agreement with the U.S. that could pave the way for reversing the tariffs. Treasury Minister James Murray, in an interview with Sky News, indicated that businesses are being consulted to identify which products are least impacted by the tariffs.
“We want to involve businesses in that decision, and we need to be clear that we keep all options on the table,” Murray stated. “We reserve the right to retaliate, but we want a deal, and our full focus is on that.”
Concerns over NATO and U.S. relations
Blair also expressed apprehension regarding Trump’s diminishing support for NATO. Reflecting on his experiences with U.S. President George W. Bush during his own premiership, Blair noted the importance of American involvement in European defense. He highlighted the necessity of U.S. participation in global security efforts, pointing out the potential risks if the U.S. were to withdraw its support.
“It became clear to me that we could never have done it without the Americans. I thought, ‘This is crazy — what happens if the Americans decide they don’t want to be part of it?’” Blair remarked, underlining the implications of such a shift in U.S. foreign policy.