PM Starmer says UK won’t be forced to choose between US, China

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said ahead of his visit to Beijing that London would not have to "choose between" relations with the United States and China.

In an interview with Bloomberg, the premier said the UK would maintain "close ties" with the US on business, security and defence, but added that "sticking your head in the sand and ignoring China... wouldn't be sensible," Caliber.Az reports.

Starmer noted that a potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping would not damage relations with the US and would help maintain balance in international politics.

"I'm often invited to simply choose between countries. I don't do that," Starmer said in the interview.

According to Starmer, the trip to Beijing opens up “significant opportunities” for British businesses.

“We've got very close relations with the US – of course, we want to – and we will maintain that business, alongside security and defence," he said.

"Equally, just sticking your head in the sand and ignoring China, when it's the second-biggest economy in the world and there are business opportunities wouldn't be sensible,” Starmer said.

Starmer’s visit to China — the first by a UK prime minister in eight years — came after a similar move by his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, which sparked new tariff threats from US President Donald Trump.

By Khagan Isayev