Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has criticised the appointment of Ed Miliband as Britain’s Foreign Secretary, describing the decision as “appalling” and suggesting it will be welcomed by the Kremlin. Johnson linked Miliband’s record, particularly his opposition to British military intervention in Syria, to the conditions that enabled Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Johnson’s comments followed Miliband’s elevation to the Foreign Office by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham earlier this month. Johnson shared a newspaper article on social media asserting that Miliband’s stance against military action in Syria under the leadership of then-Prime Minister David Cameron had emboldened Russian President Vladimir Putin to pursue aggression in Ukraine.

Miliband, as Labour leader in 2013, instructed his parliamentary party to vote against UK involvement in a U.S.-led campaign targeting Syrian chemical weapons capabilities. This move drew criticism amid accusations he prioritised political considerations over humanitarian concerns, as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was believed to have used chemical weapons against civilians, killing more than 1,400 people. The Labour Party has countered that the failure to intervene was due to what it describes as Cameron’s hesitant approach, which disrupted international consensus.

Observers have linked the UK’s refusal to participate in military action with weakening Western unity, which some say paved the way for Russia’s subsequent incursions into Ukrainian territory. In particular, Wes Streeting, now Defence Secretary and a former Labour colleague, previously noted that hesitation by Western powers “created a vacuum” exploited by Russia to reinforce Assad’s hold on power. However, Streeting defended Miliband, saying his remarks were not intended as a personal critique but rather a reflection on hindsight challenges.

Middle East analyst Charles Lister commented that Miliband’s opposition to intervention in Syria had “huge global impacts,” including facilitating Russia’s action in Ukraine, exacerbating the refugee crisis, and influencing political shifts such as Brexit. Meanwhile, reports indicate that some officials in the U.S. government expressed concerns over Miliband’s new role. According to these accounts, a senior Trump administration figure viewed Miliband’s appointment as potentially problematic for the transatlantic relationship, citing his strong advocacy for Net Zero climate policies and previous opposition to allowing the use of UK military bases by U.S. forces for operations against Iran.

Steve Bannon, a former adviser to Donald Trump, claimed the White House warned Andy Burnham that appointing Miliband—whom Bannon described as a self-identified socialist—could harm the so-called “special relationship” between the UK and the United States. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake also criticised Miliband, pointing to his past disparaging remarks about President Trump and asserting that his appointment would complicate diplomatic ties.

In response to these criticisms, Miliband expressed a personal commitment to his new role, invoking the legacy of his parents, who fled Nazi persecution to seek refuge in Britain. Upon leaving No. 10 Downing Street after his appointment, Miliband said he would “carry the spirit” of their fight against fascism into his work defending British values and interests amid growing global challenges.

A Foreign Office spokesperson stated that Miliband had already taken steps to engage with international partners, highlighting a call with his Ukrainian counterpart and a trip to Manila to meet strategic allies. The spokesperson affirmed that Miliband was appointed to safeguard Britain’s position in an increasingly complex and dangerous international environment.