Overview
- In his first televised interview on Sunday, July 26, the new defence secretary said he is still in “first impressions territory” and would not say he personally trusts President Trump while stressing he trusts the United States as an ally.
- Streeting praised Trump’s pressure on NATO for pushing European governments to spend more on defence and reduce dependence on the United States, saying Europe will one day thank the president for prompting that shift.
- He told Sky News the UK will not back offensive military action in Iran but will work with the United States and NATO on stopping nuclear development and securing key sea lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
- Streeting said he held a first phone call this week with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to frame cooperation on maritime security and non‑proliferation while making London’s position on Iran clear.
- Appointed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham in the July reshuffle, Streeting presented himself as a moderniser who plans to raise defence spending and fix long‑running procurement and value‑for‑money problems that have left prior defence plans short of funding.