UK Defense Secretary Seeks to Rebuild Ties with Trump via Strait of Hormuz Cooperation

British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting is working to restore relations between the United Kingdom and US President Donald Trump by advocating for joint cooperation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He also reaffirmed London’s commitment to a plan for modernizing its armed forces.

This initiative aims to move past the tensions that marked relations during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Streeting informed his US counterpart, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, of his desire to collaborate on establishing an international alliance to secure navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global trade route.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Streeting is attempting to recalibrate the “special relationship” between London and Washington, which had weakened during the outbreak of conflict with Iran earlier this year.

During their discussions, Streeting and Hegseth explored proposals to hold a conference in London this week. The event would include NATO allies, defense ministers, and military leaders representing up to 40 countries.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Keen are expected to participate in the conference.

According to the report, European countries previously held regular meetings without US involvement. The upcoming conference aims to mend divisions among various parties after months described as difficult for allied relations.

A source close to Streeting told the newspaper, “The defense secretary had a very friendly conversation with Secretary Hegseth, discussing developments in the Strait of Hormuz and ways allies can cooperate on this issue.”

The source added that the two sides also discussed defense sector investment and the UK’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations within NATO.

During the talks, Streeting emphasized Britain’s plan to modernize and reform its armed forces to better meet the demands of modern warfare, particularly amid the increasing use of drones.

Last week, at the Farnborough International Airshow, the British defense minister stated that the UK is working on building “an integrated system combining manned and autonomous platforms,” which he described as “a bridge toward possessing a sixth-generation fighter.”

The report suggests that Streeting’s efforts could reassure skeptics in Washington about the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, especially after the appointment of Ed Miliband as foreign secretary was met with some reservations in US circles.

Last week, Miliband held his first bilateral meeting with US counterpart Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit hosted by the Philippines.

Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially succeeded in establishing a good relationship with President Trump during the first months of their cooperation, but that relationship later deteriorated.

Trump mocked Starmer, stating he “is not Winston Churchill,” amid disputes over the British government’s initial refusal to allow the US to use British military bases for strikes against Iran.

The US president also sharply criticized the Chagos Islands agreement signed by Starmer’s government, calling it “an act of extreme stupidity.”