Prime Minister Keir Starmer is charting a new path for British foreign policy on Palestine, a path that has led to a direct clash with the traditional U.S. approach. This conflict was on full display in London as President Donald Trump publicly registered his “disagreement” with the UK’s plan for unilateral recognition.
The traditional U.S. path, defended by Trump, is one of strict proceduralism. It dictates that a Palestinian state can only be recognized after a comprehensive peace treaty is signed with Israel. This “negotiations-first” model was recently reaffirmed by a U.S. “no” vote at the UN against a widely supported two-state solution framework.
Starmer’s new path is one of strategic disruption. He argued that the UK’s planned recognition is a “necessary catalyst” to break the current deadlock. His government is gambling that by changing the diplomatic status quo, it can create new and better conditions for a final settlement.
This clash between a new path and an old tradition is a defining moment for the “special relationship.” It shows the UK’s growing ambition to act as an independent and innovative player on the world stage, rather than simply a follower of the U.S. lead.
The state visit has been marked by this fundamental policy disagreement. While the UK has delayed its move as a diplomatic courtesy, Starmer’s commitment to this new path is clear. The clash with U.S. tradition over Palestine is likely to be the first of many tests for this new, more independent British foreign policy.