America’s allies must choose sides

Published January 31, 2026 5:00am ET



Seeking “more sophisticated” ties with Beijing this week, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed the idea that he must choose between the United States and China. But he is wrong. America’s allies must choose between the U.S. and its foremost enemy, and it shouldn’t be difficult.

In an interview before his trip, Starmer complained, “I’m often asked to simply choose between countries. I don’t do that. I remember when I was doing the U.S. trade deal, and everybody put it to me that I’d have to make a choice between the U.S. and Europe, and I said, ‘I’m not making that choice.’” 

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