Keir Starmer's task amounted to getting to full-time without serious mishap against a team that was 5-0 down within 40 minutes, all own goals, whose captain left the field early for half-time, and whose players started butting heads well before the game's end. But you can only beat what's in front of you. Now the hard part starts.
The domestic challenges look bad: the NHS crisis, bankrupt local governments, crumbling infrastructure, a flat economy. But the foreign policy in-tray looks worse: war in Europe, conflict in the Middle East, friction with China and Donald Trump's possible return. It makes for the most fragile and dangerous time for a generation.
Business will kick off with two summits. President Joe Biden was hosting Nato leaders from 9-11 July. After his record win, Starmer was expected to be in the spotlight. Ukraine was set to dominate the discussion. The trajectory of the war has changed and the initiative now lies with Moscow. Had the US Congress not agreed to resume US military aid to Ukraine, we might now be seeing substantial Russian advances. And Vladimir Putin believes he can outlast the west.
This Nato gathering, with Starmer playing his part, needs to reaffirm support for Ukraine; the Europeans must commit to doing more; and leaders must reassert convincingly that Nato will last the course. Because if Putin wins in Ukraine, he will not stop there.
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