The new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Andy Burnham, aims to focus intensively on the country’s internal issues as soon as he takes office, but like his predecessors, he seems likely to face the greatest challenge in foreign policy. Indeed, in the past decade, the biggest challenge for England, which has changed more than six prime ministers, has been foreign policy. Making a noteworthy statement on this issue, former Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that in a period when England is facing an increasingly unstable world, foreign and domestic policies cannot be separated, and therefore the new Prime Minister will need to devote a lot of time to foreign policy.[i]
As the geopolitical balances in the world are rapidly changing and the international system is undergoing a transformation, it seems quite difficult for the new Prime Minister Burnham in the United Kingdom to focus on domestic issues and remain indifferent to global developments. Moreover, as the pressure from United States (US) President Donald Trump on the United Kingdom continues to increase, Burnham seems likely to spend the most time on transatlantic relations. Indeed, according to a widely reported news story in the international media, Burnham approved the use of British bases for some of the U.S. attacks on Iran in the early days of his tenure.[ii]
Because it was known that the Trump administration had long been pressuring the UK Government on this matter.[iii] However, former Prime Minister Starmer objected to the use of these bases, particularly the Diego Garcia/Chagos Islands base in the Indian Ocean, which caused tensions in transatlantic relations and led to heavy criticism from Trump. Therefore, during his term, Starmer was unable to sufficiently address the country’s critical economic issues and generally had to deal with the Trump administration and the global crises it caused.
On July 20, 2026, the day Burnham took office, the U.S. Ambassador to London, Warren Stephens, called for the United Kingdom to increase its defense spending and fully support AUKUS.[iv] The American diplomat made this statement on the day Burnham took office, showing from the very first day that the United States would increase its pressure on the United Kingdom Government. The reason for this can be attributed to the Trump administration not getting exactly what it wanted from previous British governments. Especially in the war against Iran, the Trump administration, which did not receive the support it sought from the United Kingdom, criticized Starmer’s firm stance by saying, “The person we are facing is not Winston Churchill.”[v]
Therefore, Starmer’s departure can be seen as a change that the Trump administration would be extremely pleased with. At the same time, this change can be seen as an opportunity for the transatlantic relationship to be strengthened (as it should be) from the perspective of the United States. In other words, with Burnham’s coming to power, it can be said that there is an expectation of “breathing room” and “relaxation” in transatlantic relations from the perspective of the United States. This also means that the Trump administration’s expectations of the Burnham Government will be extremely high. It is highly likely that Burnham’s initial concessions to the US (such as base usage) will create significant internal political costs within the left wing of the Labor Party and the anti-war British public, and that Burnham will face a legitimacy test in domestic politics much earlier than expected.
The greatest source of legitimacy for Burnham’s rise to power is his promise to address the country’s pressing domestic issues such as social care, local development, and public ownership. On the other hand, left-wing and center-left groups within the Labor Party are demanding radical changes in foreign policy with Burnham’s coming to power. Therefore, Burnham may find himself in a position where he has to yield to the Trump administration’s policies on Iran and the Middle East, while also needing to keep the internal party opposition in check.
Burnham will face a very slippery and challenging terrain in foreign policy. At the center of these challenges lies the management of the balances between the USA, Continental Europe, Russia, and China. The United Kingdom will have to strike a delicate balance between its traditional commitment to the transatlantic alliance and the economic and geographical realities on the European continent. With the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine War and global security threats, the question of how and to what extent the United Kingdom will integrate into Europe’s new security architecture is also a critical agenda item. After Brexit, London, which has geopolitically distanced itself from the continent, taking on a more active and foundational role in European defense doctrines again, will be one of the biggest challenges for the new government.
Since 2010, the United Kingdom has experienced numerous changes in prime ministers, and the governments have struggled to maintain a consistent line in both domestic and foreign policy. During this period, no government has been able to reverse Britain’s economic stagnation, gain public support on the issue of immigration, or make significant changes in foreign policy.[vi] When examining the political legacy of its predecessors, it can be said that the Burnham Government will also have to deal largely with crisis management and challenging foreign policy issues (regional conflicts, trade wars, maintaining international alliances) just like its predecessors. Therefore, Burnham will also need to simultaneously address the country’s economic and social issues as well as the rapidly changing global-regional balances and challenges. Andy Burnham’s primary and most challenging test in foreign policy will be to clarify the United Kingdom’s position in response to the unpredictable European, Middle Eastern, and Chinese strategies of the Trump administration in Washington.
[i] “Outgoing UK PM Starmer says successor cannot spend less time on foreign affairs”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/outgoing-uk-pm-starmer-says-successor-cannot-spend-less-time-foreign-affairs-2026-07-04/, (Date Accessed: 23.07.2026).
[ii] “Burnham approves use of U.K. bases for some U.S. strikes on Iran”, Japantimes, https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/07/22/world/politics/burnham-uk-bases-us-strikes-iran/, (Date Accessed: 23.07.2026).
[iii] “Trump expects Burnham to let US strike Iran from British bases”, Telegraph, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/07/21/trump-expects-burnham-to-let-america-use-uk-bases-iran/, (Date Accessed: 23.07.2026).
[iv] @USAmbUK, “I urge the UK government to fully fund AUKUS and increase its defense spending”, X, https://x.com/USAmbUK/status/2079476497232884157, (Date Accessed: 23.07.2026); “Andy Burnham must increase defence spending, says US ambassador to UK”, The Times, https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/warren-stephens-us-ambassador-andy-burnham-c8fwnp5r8, (Date Accessed: 23.07.2026).
[v] “Trump says Starmer is ‘not Winston Churchill’ over Iran strikes”, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62gwkjg0k9o, (Date Accessed: 23.07.2026).
[vi] “Andy Burnham-a potential candidate for the UK Prime Minister”, Vietnam.vn, https://www.vietnam.vn/tr/andy-burnham-ung-vien-thu-tuong-anh-tiem-nang, (Date Accessed: 26.06.2026).
