Shortly after the United Kingdom Government approved the opening of a new Chinese Embassy in London, it was announced that Prime Minister Keir Starmer would lead a major business delegation on a working visit to Beijing.[1] This visit, which is expected to culminate in new economic cooperation agreements, has been interpreted as a return to the ‘Golden Era’ in relations with China. It should be recalled that between 2010 and 2016, the Conservative Party government under Prime Minister David Cameron sought close economic cooperation with China, including participation in the Belt and Road Initiative; a period termed the ‘Golden Era’ of relations. However, after 2017, the British government distanced itself from China, emphasizing a shift in the global conjuncture, and by 2022, had begun to characterize China as a ‘systemic rival’ or the ‘number one threat.[2]
Following Donald Trump’s inauguration as the President of the United States in 2017, the dynamics within the Western world shifted rapidly. From that point onward, the Trump administration warned its European allies to ‘be cautious in relations with China,’ forcing the Western world to take a stand against Beijing. During this process, the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei was banned from 5G networks, first in the US and subsequently in Anglosphere countries such as Canada, the UK, and Australia. Furthermore, starting in 2019, European powers alongside the US began to pivot increasingly toward the Asia-Pacific, moving in alignment with Washington’s strategy regarding the containment of China. In recent years, the US and the UK have been the primary actors advocating that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should engage with global security issues. Accordingly, a revision was made to NATO’s Strategic Concept in 2022, in which China was mentioned for the first time.[3]
The United States and the United Kingdom stand out as ‘hegemonic powers’ developing global strategies to enable the Western world to counter both Russia and China. Indeed, this struggle has recently been concretely observed within transatlantic relations. The UK was among the actors in Europe that reacted strongly to the policies pursued by Trump to acquire Greenland. The robust political support provided by Europe to Greenland has caused Trump to act with caution at the current stage. In this regard, the UK’s maneuvers are particularly noteworthy. Within this context, the London administration transferred the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, home to the strategic US military base ‘Diego Garcia’ in the Indo-Pacific, to Mauritius, a move Trump criticized as ‘an act of great stupidity.’[4] This development points to a serious divergence of opinion in transatlantic relations.
Regarding the growing controversy over Greenland, Starmer clearly expressed Britain’s opposition to American plans by stating that he ‘will not yield to Trump.’[5] This stance reflects not only a transatlantic divide but also an overt competition among Anglosphere nations. Furthermore, the UK is signaling that it will not participate in Trump’s ‘Board of Peace,’ citing concerns over the potential involvement of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In both the first and second terms of Trump, the divergences between Continental Europe and the US became more pronounced, and during these periods, the UK played a critical role in maintaining transatlantic ties by acting as a ‘bridge.’ However, the overt disagreements between the UK and the US following the Greenland Crisis have created the danger of these ties reaching a ‘breaking point.’ If the UK and the US fail to find solutions to defuse the crisis, Continental Europe’s support for NATO will further diminish, and European countries will begin to take concrete steps toward establishing their own armies.
Greenland is closely linked to European security. As seen in the case of Ukraine, the UK is one of the primary actors defending the security of Europe. A similar situation applies to the Arctic and the Greenland issue. Opposing the presence of actors such as Russia or China in its immediate vicinity, the UK advocates for the Western world to demonstrate unity and solidarity on this matter. Here, London emphasizes a strong Europe and NATO. Likewise, London believes that the West, including Washington, must collectively engage with security in the Asia-Pacific. However, Trump’s move regarding Greenland constitutes a significant blow to Western unity and cohesion. Therefore, as seen in both the Greenland issue and the Chagos Islands example, the UK is striving to send direct messages to the US. The nature of these messages may be symbolic, actual, indirect, or direct; their true essence will become clearer in the period ahead.
However, the message London is sending to Washington, particularly through the Chagos Islands, appears clear: ‘If you do not provide sufficient support for European security, you will not find the support you need in the Asia-Pacific.’ This move has provoked an angry response from Trump. While the US has been employing a ‘carrot-and-stick’ game against Europe regarding the Greenland issue, it is the UK’s turn to utilize a similar carrot-and-stick method against the US, which explains Trump’s ire. The base at Diego Garcia, a part of the Chagos Archipelago, is poised to play a strategic role in potential US operations in the Middle East, particularly regarding Iran. This step, therefore, serves as a crucial reminder that the US will remain dependent on the UK in shaping its policies toward the Middle East and Central Asia, starting with Iran.
Similarly, Starmer’s visit to Beijing could serve as a catalyst for gaining new momentum in UK-China relations in economic terms. These steps by London may be perceived as a stance that disregards Trump’s thoughts, strategies, and warnings regarding China. In essence, these can be interpreted as maneuvers undertaken by the UK to realize its own global vision. Consequently, it appears that the future of the Western world in the struggle against China will be largely shaped by the competition between the US and the UK.
[1] “Keir Starmer to visit China with British business leaders next week, say reports”, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/21/keir-starmer-visit-china-british-business-leaders, (Access Date: 22.01.2025).
[2] “UK PM hopeful Sunak: China ‘number one threat’ to Britain, world”, Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/25/uk-pm-hopeful-sunak-china-number-one-threat-to-britain-world, (Access Date: 22.01.2025).
[3] “NATO declares China a security challenge for the first time”, Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/30/nato-names-china-a-strategic-priority-for-the-first-time, (Access Date: 22.01.2025).
[4] “‘Act of great stupidity’: Trump launches another tirade against a NATO ally. This time it’s the UK”, CNBC, https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/20/trump-uk-chagos-davos-starmer-nato.html, (Access Date: 22.01.2025).
[5] “UK’s Starmer: I will not yield to Donald Trump”, Politico, https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-keir-starmer-will-not-yield-to-donald-trump-greenland/, (Access Date: 22.01.2025).
