Ed Miliband told by Marco Rubio to increase UK defence spending as Europe 'must take a greater role in its own security'

Marco Rubio told Ed Miliband to increase British defence spending as the Secretary of State said Europe must take a "greater role" in self-security.

A Foreign Office official said the meeting, during which the two men discussed the wars in Iran and Ukraine as well as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, had been "very productive".

The newly appointed Foreign Secretary had previously pressed Sir Keir Starmer not to allow the US to use British bases during the initial stages of its air strikes on Iran.

However, Mr Miliband said the US remained the UK’s "closest ally" as he heaped praise on his US counterpart.

A readout from the US Department of State said Mr Miliband and Mr Rubio "discussed the importance of Europe taking on a greater role in its own security.

"They reiterated their shared commitment to safe transit in the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring Iran never develops or obtains a nuclear weapon."

The dynamic between the two men was closely watched as the White House was also reported to be concerned about Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to hand Mr Miliband the Foreign Office brief.

In his previous role as energy secretary, Mr Miliband was a strong champion of net zero and renewables, while Mr Trump is a vocal supporter of fossil fuels, including opening up North Sea oil, and an avowed opponent of "windmills".

Since arriving in Downing Street, Mr Burnham has signalled a shift in energy policy, earning praise from the Oval Office.

Washington’s Ambassador to the UK, Warren Stephens, said recently that Mr Miliband had been "wrong" in 2016 to call Mr Trump "a racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper" and that "hopefully his views have changed".

He also pledged to work with Mr Miliband in his new role, despite their disagreement on green issues.

Asked following his talks with Mr Rubio whether he thought his previous statements about President Trump had hampered relations with the US administration, Mr Miliband said: “No, and in fact they didn’t come up."

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Mr Miliband continued: "We had a very productive 90-minute conversation, in which we talked about, yes, about Iran, but about how we can stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine against Russian aggression.

"[We talked about] about how we can work towards relieving the terrible suffering we’re seeing in Gaza, and a two-state solution for security of the Israeli and Palestinian people and we talked about a range of other issues."

He added: "What I know is that the US is our closest ally. They’re our closest ally when it comes to the importance of our economic partnership, our defence partnership, our security partnership, our intelligence partnership.

"That partnership endures, and it endures through successive administrations, and it will endure in the future."

Mr Miliband said a large part of his discussions with Mr Rubio had focused on securing a "lasting ceasefire" in the Iran war, which he argued would help tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

The Strait of Hormuz waterway, which had been open before the US and Israel launched the military offensive in February, has been a flashpoint in the Middle East conflict and disruption to trade has driven up fuel and food prices.

Mr Miliband said: "People should be in no doubt, I know, as Foreign Secretary, that the British people are worried about what’s happened to petrol prices, diesel prices, energy bills, and the single biggest thing we can do is get that ceasefire in relation to Iran."

In his report of the talks, Mr Rubio notably made no reference to the so-called "special relationship" with the UK.

Separately, after the announcement that Mr Miliband will take the UK’s seat on the World Bank board, he will also meet its president Ajay Banga during his visit to discuss development, climate change and strengthening global resilience.