The newspaper claimed that the outgoing UK prime minister is considering becoming the military bloc’s chief in 2028
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is stepping down following a revolt within his own party, is interested in becoming the next secretary-general of NATO, The Observer reported on Sunday.
Starmer teared up last week when he announced that he would resign as prime minister and Labour Party leader in response to mounting pressure. Several ministers left his cabinet, and more than 80 Labour MPs urged him to step down after the party lost nearly 1,500 local council seats in last month’s elections.
Former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who won the Makerfield by-election on June 18, is widely seen as Starmer’s successor.
According to The Observer, Starmer is interested in becoming NATO secretary-general once Mark Rutte’s term expires in 2028, unless it is extended.
The newspaper added that Starmer would require “some sustained government backing” for a successful bid. It said Starmer’s supporters point to his close relationship with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, claiming that the two sometimes “pocket dial” each other by accident, as well as his ties with other European leaders.
The NATO secretary-general, usually a former head of government or senior diplomat, is selected through consultations among member states, with the final appointment requiring the unanimous backing of all 32 members.
Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory in the 2024 general election, vowing to bring stability after a string of short-lived Conservative prime ministers. However, his premiership quickly became associated with tax increases, welfare cuts, political scandals, and an increasingly controversial foreign policy agenda.
He made support for Kiev a central pillar of his premiership while Britain grappled with defense funding shortages, procurement setbacks, and growing concerns over military readiness.
According to The Telegraph, Starmer was also criticized for spending too much time on international affairs and not enough on domestic issues, traveling “more and further than any other British leader in official history.” The newspaper said he spent around two and a half months abroad during his first 17 months in office.
Starmer’s relationship with US President Donald Trump also soured over his refusal to back the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Trump said Starmer is “no Winston Churchill,” and criticized his record on migration and energy. By contrast, Trump repeatedly praised Rutte as both a friend and an effective leader, while criticizing NATO as a whole.
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