British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his first visit to Washington in his current role, where discussions emphasized the need for increased European defence spending and broader security cooperation.
Rubio urged Europe to assume a larger role in its own defence, underscoring concerns over regional security challenges. This follows ongoing debate within the UK government regarding defence budget targets. While former Defence Secretary John Healey had advocated for raising UK defence spending to 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, other senior figures, including Prime Minister Andy Burnham, have suggested a more gradual approach, aiming for 3.5 percent by 2035. Meanwhile, Germany has surpassed the UK as Europe’s leading defence spender.
The meeting took place amid some tensions in the UK-U.S. relationship. Miliband, known for his critical stance towards former President Donald Trump—whom he has described as a “racist” and “misogynist” with “authoritarian tendencies”—faces skepticism from some quarters in the current U.S. administration. Sources revealed that allies of Trump have mocked Miliband’s support for green energy through nicknames such as “Ed Miliwatt.” Despite these frictions, the discussions were characterized by British officials as “warm and productive.”
On the agenda were a range of security issues, including the strategic importance of maintaining open transit in the Strait of Hormuz and managing European security threats. Rubio reportedly highlighted concerns over immigration and “left-wing terrorism” as part of broader European security priorities.
Ukraine was also a subject of conversation, although Rubio earlier downplayed the idea it would dominate the talks, making light of the question by suggesting a wide scope of issues would be covered.
In the domestic context, Miliband has been a leading voice in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet advocating against the use of British military bases for U.S. strikes in Iran, a position that drew criticism from Trump at the start of the conflict. In contrast, Trump has expressed approval for Burnham’s government, particularly regarding plans to expand North Sea energy production—a key point in their initial phone conversation following Burnham’s rise to the premiership.
Overall, the meeting between Miliband and Rubio aimed to reinforce the transatlantic partnership amid evolving defence and security challenges, signaling a focus on collaborative efforts in addressing regional and global issues.