Awkward

The Labour government came right out of the gate centering NATO, mostly as a way to shore up their credentials as Tough Guys Unlike Those Hippies.

This government will have a ‘NATO first’ defence strategy: article by the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary

Just an example, from right after they came to power in July, 2024. They've repeatedly invoked NATO allegiance as a kind of tough guy/patriot/"foreign policy realist" test, melding it to chestbeating support for Ukraine as a kind of battle cry (supporting Ukraine is fine, the usual belligerence backed by little is not).

A bit tough now that Starmer is doing everything Donnie tells him, even as Donnie can't even remember his name.