British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has appealed to the United States to continue its backing for Ukraine, during his visit to Washington. Mr Streeting also sought to alleviate tensions between the two nations, which have arisen from a recent dispute concerning the Starlink satellite internet service.
Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US think tank, Mr Streeting contended that supporting Ukraine serves Washington's long-term interests and presents a business opportunity. He acknowledged "the challenges of recent days," referring to the US government's decision on Monday to restrict the use of Starlink by Ukraine's military, which Ukrainian soldiers reported rendered communications inoperable on drones at speeds over 100mph.
Mr Streeting is scheduled to meet his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth. Their discussions are expected to cover Ukraine, Iran, and the Middle East, as well as the safety of US military bases in the UK following an Iranian threat that led to the withdrawal of B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford.
The British Defence Secretary also made a direct appeal to the US audience, stating that "the people of Ukraine are fighting for a principle that runs through the finest traditions of American political thought," concerning a free people's right to determine their own destiny.