Ed Miliband Named UK Foreign Secretary, Pledges to Strengthen Alliances

Ed Miliband, the former Labour leader, has been appointed as the UK's new foreign secretary by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. In his first speech in the role, Miliband said it was an honor and privilege, noting his parents fled Nazi Germany as Jewish refugees. He vowed to strengthen ties with the European Union, NATO, and the United Nations, and to work with partners in the global south. Miliband, who has been a Labour MP for over 20 years, is not known as a foreign policy expert but has taken clear positions on several international issues. He opposed the 2003 Iraq war, calling it wrong, and led Labour MPs in voting against military action in Syria in 2013. He has long supported British recognition of a Palestinian state and criticized Israel's military actions in Gaza. In 2014, he described the killing of Palestinian civilians as unacceptable. More recently, Miliband opposed UK involvement in the US-led war on Iran. He has also been critical of US President Donald Trump, calling him racist and misogynistic. Miliband stated that the world faces greater instability than at any time since World War II. He said Britain will continue to support Ukraine against Russia's invasion and seek a sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians.