UK Prime Minister: Ready to Oppose Trump in Defense of Our Interests

The new British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, affirmed his readiness to oppose US President Donald Trump if it serves his country’s interests, emphasizing that defending Britain’s national interests will remain his top priority.

In his first extensive interview since assuming office with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Burnham said he had held a productive dialogue with Trump, describing him as “very friendly.” However, he declined to answer directly when asked twice whether he trusted the US president, instead stating that the world is changing and that responses to new developments must be adapted to evolving circumstances.

He added that he would not hesitate to adopt a different stance from Trump or express a contrary opinion if it served Britain’s interests, reiterating that it is the Prime Minister’s duty to defend the national interest above all else.

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He also stressed his commitment to staying close to citizens, affirming that this approach would not change after he took office.

For the first time, Burnham explicitly ruled out holding early general elections before their scheduled date in 2029, explaining that his government’s focus is on putting the country back on the right track.

On defense matters, the British Prime Minister did not specify a timeline for raising defense spending to 3 percent of GDP, noting that the current priority is to fully fund the defense investment plan ahead of the budget approval later this year, and that his government will work to establish the appropriate mechanism to achieve this goal.

Burnham also revealed that he had been concerned about the outbreak of conflict with Iran, affirming that he would not hesitate to declare what he believes to be right.

Burnham is the seventh Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2016, having succeeded Keir Starmer as head of government and leader of the Labour Party last week, after winning the party leadership as the sole candidate, having secured the support of 379 out of 403 Labour MPs in the House of Commons.