The United States has been one of Britain’s closest allies for generations. That relationship matters, but no alliance should require Britain to ignore threats to international law, democratic values or our own national interest.

Donald Trump has made the United States an increasingly unreliable partner.

His approach is driven by threats, tariffs and military force. He has attacked allies, undermined NATO and treated international relationships as transactions shaped by his personal interests.

I have described Trump as an impulsive and dangerous political figure whose actions are making the world less stable. Britain must be prepared to challenge him directly.

A reckless foreign policy

Trump’s illegal war alongside Benjamin Netanyahu against the Iranian regime has placed civilians at risk and threatened a wider regional conflict.

The Iranian regime has oppressed its people, supported armed groups and attacked civilian shipping. Those crimes do not give Trump the right to abandon international law or launch an open-ended war without a credible plan for peace.

In Parliament, I condemned both the Iranian regime’s repression and Trump’s military escalation. I called for Britain to reduce its dependence on the White House by rebuilding our European relationships and strengthening our own defence capabilities.

The same disregard for international law has shaped Trump’s approach elsewhere.

I condemned his intervention in Venezuela as an unlawful attempt to seize control of another country’s resources. Nicolás Maduro was a brutal and illegitimate dictator, but Trump’s actions served his own political and economic interests rather than the Venezuelan people.

When powerful countries decide that they can attack their neighbours or seize territory without consequence, they encourage authoritarian leaders such as Putin and Xi Jinping to do the same.

Trump’s threats against Greenland were another direct challenge to international security.

Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO ally. Threatening its territory cannot be dismissed as bluster. It undermines the alliance Britain relies on and raises serious questions about whether the United States remains committed to the security of its partners.

I criticised politicians in Britain who treated those threats as a secondary concern or refused to stand up to Trump. Appeasing an aggressive president makes further aggression more likely.

His policies affect people in Britain

Trump’s domestic economic agenda does not stop at America’s borders.

His destructive trade war and repeated use of tariffs threaten jobs, businesses and living standards in Britain. He has shown that he is prepared to punish long-standing allies to extract political concessions.

Giving in to those threats would invite him to use the same tactics again.

Britain should work with European and Commonwealth partners to resist economic bullying, protect our businesses and build new trading relationships. Where necessary, that should include a coordinated and proportionate response to American tariffs.

Flattering Trump and hoping for special treatment has failed. A state visit and warm words did not prevent the United States from threatening Britain and other NATO allies with further economic punishment.

I have argued that the United States under Trump can no longer be treated as a completely stable ally. Europe must become more capable of protecting its own security and economic interests.

Democracy and accountability matter

Trump’s conduct within the United States also matters to Britain.

The President of the United States remains one of the most powerful people in the world. Attempts to weaken legal accountability, place personal interests above public duty or use the presidency to avoid scrutiny damage democratic standards far beyond America.

I have raised Trump’s links with Jeffrey Epstein in Parliament and challenged the failure to provide proper answers about that relationship.

The principle is straightforward. No president should be beyond scrutiny, and no political leader should be able to evade accountability whilst trying to erode democratic norms. The whole world watches moments like these, and notices.

Britain should support those in America defending the rule of law, independent institutions and democratic government. We should also make sure our own political system is resilient against the same authoritarian habits.

Britain must be able to choose its own future

Britain should continue cooperating with the United States where our interests and values align.

We must also have the strength to say no.

That means restoring close relationships with our European neighbours, investing in Britain’s defence capabilities and reducing our reliance on American equipment and political decisions.

I have called for deeper European defence cooperation and proposed defence bonds to help raise the investment needed to protect our country. Europe must be able to defend itself even when the White House is hostile or unwilling to help.

Britain needs an independent foreign policy grounded in international law, democracy and our own security.

I will continue opposing Trump’s war in Iran, challenging his attacks on allies and standing against the economic damage caused by his tariffs.

Our relationship with the United States must serve the interests of the British people. It should never require silence in the face of dangerous and unlawful behaviour.

One day, hopefully soon, our values will realign, and we will work together again to put human rights and democracy first around the world. But until then, Britain must be clear-eyed and steadfast in defending the principles that guide us and that guide the international rules-based order that underpins global growth and security.