Starmer denies being snubbed by Trump at G7 summit

PM did not have bilateral meeting with US leader but says pair had ‘very productive’ conversations in group sessions

Keir Starmer has denied being snubbed by Donald Trump at the G7 in France after the two did not have a bilateral meeting at the summit.

The prime minister, who did meet the US president in a series of discussions involving other leaders, said he had a series of “very productive, very good conversations” with Trump. He added that Britain was ready to play its “full part” in opening the strait of Hormuz after a peace deal between Iran and the US.

The prime minister said it was vital for British interests that the strait was opened “as quickly as possible” after the breakthrough. “The strait being closed in the way that it has had an impact on our economy, had an impact on every household across the country, so we’ll play our full part in relation to that,” he said, later adding that the UK could be involved in demining the vital shipping route.

Earlier on Tuesday, Starmer was caught on a hot mic asking: “Are they having a meeting?” while Trump, Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy were absent.

Starmer also appeared to indicate that there would be no new money for defence in the further delayed defence investment plan after the resignation of John Healey, who quit as defence secretary over the funding being made available last week. Starmer said Labour had overseen the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the 1980s, increasing funding from 2.3% to 2.6% of GDP.

He said the new defence secretary, Dan Jarvis, was looking at where he wanted the money to be spent. “He will now want to look at his own priorities and capabilities, and he may want to take a slightly different approach as to what those capabilities and priorities are now he’s looking at the plan,” he said.

Starmer said he had spoken to Macron on Monday about next steps in deciding any role played by European allies in opening the strait, adding: “We do want to make sure that where we’ve got capability and demining is an obvious example where we’re coordinating that we agree a way forward with the United States and others to get the strait of Hormuz open as soon as possible.”