Boris Johnson claims Ed Miliband is to blame for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine

Donald Trump has expressed fury over the appointment of Ed Miliband as the United Kingdom’s foreign secretary, citing the former Labour leader’s past criticisms of him. According to reports, the White House is “deeply concerned” about the move, with Trump’s administration warning that the new role could complicate diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the UK. Miliband, who took office on Monday as part of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s newly formed government, has long been vocal in his disdain for Trump, calling him a “racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper” during the 2016 presidential campaign. The tensions between the two men date back over a decade. Miliband has repeatedly criticized Trump’s policies and rhetoric, particularly regarding climate change and democracy. In 2017, he referred to the president as someone who had “lowered the bar for idiocy.” He also condemned Trump’s “incredibly peculiar relationship with Russia” and accused him of undermining political norms. His public disapproval of Trump’s stance on oil and gas exploration in the North Sea has further strained relations, with Trump accusing Miliband of being an “extreme” environmentalist who blocks fossil fuel expansion. A source close to the White House told The Independent that Trump does not forget past slights and that Miliband has “some serious diplomatic repair to undertake.” This sentiment echoes concerns raised by a consultant working with both the White House and the State Department, who remarked that Miliband’s appointment is “going down like a lead balloon” and that the U.S. government no longer takes the UK seriously. The consultant noted that Miliband is viewed in Washington as an “unreasonable ‘net zero’ extremist” who opposed North Sea oil production but supported the UK’s purchase of Norwegian fossil fuels. Burnham, the new prime minister, selected Miliband for the role partly due to his experience in international affairs during his tenure as energy secretary under Sir Keir Starmer. However, the decision has drawn criticism, especially from former leaders like Boris Johnson, who argued that Miliband’s actions as Labour leader contributed to geopolitical shifts. Johnson claimed that Miliband’s refusal to support military intervention in Syria in 2013—when Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons, led directly to Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014. He tweeted that the Kremlin would be “delighted” with Burnham’s choice, suggesting that Miliband’s policies have had far-reaching consequences. Miliband’s tenure as Labour leader included a notable stance against the Iraq War, which he described as a “fundamental loss of trust” in the party. His opposition to the 2003 invasion set him apart from previous Labour leaders like Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and even from his own brother, David Miliband, who had supported the war. While Miliband did not personally vote on the Iraq War during his early parliamentary career, he later acknowledged that he was constrained by collective ministerial responsibility during his time in government. A subsequent inquiry into the war concluded that the invasion was based on flawed intelligence and contributed to the rise of groups like ISIS. As foreign secretary, Miliband has pledged to prioritize global stability, strengthening ties with the EU, NATO, and the UN. He has also emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression and has outlined plans to address conflicts in the Middle East, including efforts toward peace in Palestine and Israel. Despite these ambitions, his appointment has sparked controversy, with some fearing that his progressive views on climate and international cooperation may clash with U.S. interests, particularly under a presidency that favors fossil fuel expansion. Miliband’s personal history adds another layer to the debate. He spent childhood years in Boston, Massachusetts, where his father, a Marxist academic, taught. He is a fan of baseball and a supporter of the Boston Red Sox. His background reflects a blend of intellectual rigor and cultural connection to the U.S., yet his public statements have often placed him at odds with American political figures. Government ministers have attempted to reassure the U.S. that Miliband’s appointment will not harm bilateral relations, emphasizing that the UK government will remain committed to working with its allies.