The United States stood firm on its Middle East policy Thursday, as President Donald Trump used his London visit to publicly reaffirm his administration’s opposition to the UK’s plan to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. The declaration, made alongside Prime Minister Keir Starmer, highlighted a significant point of contention that shadows the “special relationship.”
President Trump’s statement was a clear articulation of the U.S. doctrine that statehood should be a consequence of peace, not a precursor to it. He argued that such a unilateral move by a key ally would disrupt the delicate balance of negotiations and disincentivize compromise. This policy was recently demonstrated on the world stage when the U.S. defied global opinion by voting against a UN resolution that promoted the two-state solution.
In his response, Prime Minister Starmer walked a diplomatic tightrope, acknowledging the disagreement while justifying the UK’s new direction. He portrayed the planned recognition as a proactive measure designed to generate momentum in a peace process that has been stagnant for years. For the UK, this is not about imposing a solution but about creating the conditions where a negotiated solution becomes more likely.
This episode reveals a growing philosophical gap between the two allies. Washington’s approach is rooted in a belief in process and bilateralism, holding that only the parties themselves can forge a lasting peace. London is now moving towards a belief that the international community has a responsibility to intervene strategically to break stalemates, even if it means taking steps one of the parties opposes.
While the diplomatic fallout was mitigated by Starmer’s decision to delay the recognition, the public airing of this disagreement is significant. It signals a new chapter in UK foreign policy, one where London is less hesitant to diverge from Washington on critical international issues, even during a high-profile state visit designed to celebrate their alliance.