LONDON – UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the Labour Party is facing pressures for action on the Israeli war in Gaza, noting that he “wanted to go back to a balanced position.
In his first interview with the Guardian before his first international trip to Germany and Poland, Lammy said: “We’ve been knocked about, and our economy and our country has been knocked about by world events. I’m conscious of that and I’m going out into the world in this role immediately,” he said. “I’m excited to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in.”
“One area he is likely to face immediate pressure for action is on Israel’s war in Gaza. The party’s position cost it several seats, and although the manifesto committed to recognising Palestinian statehood as part of a peace process, it did not include a timeline.” he added.
Lammy said he “wanted to go back to a balanced position”, saying he would use all diplomatic efforts to push for a ceasefire. “it is very clear that we want to see a ceasefire and we have been calling for that since the end of last year,” he said. “The fighting has got to stop and the aid has got to get in.”
However, Lammy also wants to look beyond the UK’s neighbours, and the “special relationship” across the Atlantic, to focus on resetting ties with countries across the global south, and adjusting to a multipolar world. If Britain did not offer trade and diplomatic opportunities, it would open the door for other countries including China or India to build alliances and make money.
Now, that must end: “Britain has to start reconnecting with the world.” Resetting relations with Europe is a particular priority and his first trip abroad this weekend will take him to Germany, Poland and Sweden, to meet his counterpart in each country. He will then travel on to a Nato summit in Washington, with prime minister Keir Starmer.
“Let us put the Brexit years behind us. We are not going to rejoin the single market and the customs union but there is much that we can do together,” he said. “I want to be absolutely clear, European nations are our friends.”
Areas of cooperation include energy and climate, but most pressingly security. “With a war in Europe we must continue with defence spending and work closely.
The meetings are designed to signal his commitment to working closely with key European partners, before Britain hosts a summit of the European Political Community on 18 July. European allies will be particularly important to Lammy’s plans for supporting Ukraine and tackling climate change if Donald Trump wins a second presidential term in November’s US elections.
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