US Secretary of State and British Foreign Secretary hold talks in Washington

On August 5, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband met at the State Department in Washington to discuss European security and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The discussions emphasized the necessity for Europe to take a more proactive role in its own defense, with Miliband reiterating the United Kingdom's commitment to supporting Kyiv as long as necessary, asserting that Ukrainian security is inseparable from broader European and transatlantic stability.

Beyond the situation in Ukraine, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to request additional air defense systems amidst intensified Russian attacks, the ministers addressed regional stability in the Middle East. They reaffirmed a shared commitment to ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, linking this goal to efforts aimed at mitigating the cost-of-living crisis in Britain. Furthermore, both officials declared their unified stance on preventing Iran from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons, underscoring their ongoing diplomatic cooperation on global security challenges.