In an opinion piece for The Guardian, Starmer emphasized that he is thinking long-term and wants to "reshape the country" so that citizens are not "at the mercy of events abroad." He also stressed in an interview with ITV that he is "tired of families across the country watching their bills rise and fall due to the actions of Putin or Trump." The Prime Minister is currently on a three-day tour of the Gulf, and his visit comes at a time when the fragile ceasefire in the conflict with Iran is under pressure, with disagreements over whether it also applies to Lebanon. On Thursday, Starmer spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump, and Downing Street announced that the two leaders discussed the need to develop a "practical plan to restart maritime traffic" through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route that has been effectively closed due to the conflict. The closure of the strait has already impacted the rising cost of living in the United Kingdom, particularly through increased fuel and food prices. Starmer emphasized that the past two months have shown why the country needs "energy independence." "I am tired of families and companies watching their energy bills fluctuate due to the actions of Vladimir Putin or Trump," he said. In his piece for The Guardian, he reminded that Britain has been hit by crises for nearly two decades, citing the 2008 financial crisis, Brexit, and the COVID-19 pandemic. "The response from Westminster has always been the same: manage the crisis, find a temporary solution, and then try to return to business as usual," Starmer stated, promising that this time will be different. He conveyed that the conflict in Iran must represent a "red line," and that investments in renewable energy, strengthening workers' rights, and lifting the two-child limit on social benefits will help the country prepare for growing global instability. "Resilience gives us control. Without it, we are constantly thrown off balance by events beyond our borders," he emphasized.