In what amounted to a London declaration of opposing policies, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday publicly announced their different visions for Palestinian statehood. The exchange laid bare a fundamental disagreement that now sits at the heart of the US-UK “special relationship.”
Trump’s declaration was a firm restatement of the American creed: no recognition without a negotiated settlement. He made it clear that the U.S. views any other approach as illegitimate and counterproductive. This creed was recently put into practice when the U.S. single-handedly opposed a UN resolution on the two-state solution.
Starmer’s counter-declaration was that the UK will pursue a policy of “catalytic recognition.” He argued that after decades of failure, it is time for a new declaration of intent from the international community, and that recognizing Palestine is a “necessary catalyst” to spur real progress.
This public airing of two competing declarations marks a significant moment. It moves the US-UK disagreement from the realm of private diplomatic talks to the public stage, making it a formal and acknowledged feature of their relationship.
The state visit will be remembered for this moment of candid disagreement. While the UK has delayed its recognition plan to preserve amity, both nations have now publicly declared their positions. The London Declaration of 2025 is one of division, setting a new and more challenging course for the future of the transatlantic alliance.