British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to embark on a whirlwind of global statecraft as he attends a NATO summit in Washington, followed by hosting 50 European leaders at a security meeting at Blenheim Palace. This will be a chance for him to project a stable, center-left image of Britain in the post-Brexit era, amidst political turbulence in other countries.
Starmer’s recent election success with the Labour Party raises hopes for center-left movements in France and the United States, but also warns of an anti-incumbent revolt and the rise of populism. The fatigue with the Conservative government and distrust of political institutions that led to Labour’s victory in Britain is reflected in other countries as well.
While Starmer’s election win may give him political stardust among international leaders, he will need to jump-start Britain’s economy to enhance its diplomatic power on the world stage. Additionally, Starmer should address complicated trade-offs with Europe, avoiding the baggage of his Conservative predecessors on Brexit-related issues.
Despite Starmer’s lack of foreign policy expertise, his stance on maintaining support for Ukraine and issues related to Israel and Gaza will be closely watched. His approach to foreign policy, described as ‘progressive realism’ by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, aims to balance progressive values with a realistic view of current challenges.
Overall, Starmer’s global engagements post-election will be critical in shaping Britain’s role in international affairs and his ability to navigate complex foreign policy issues and trade relationships.
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