The PM has a doctrine — but it’s delusional

When Lithuania said it would withdraw from the treaty to join Finland, Estonia and Latvia, which shrewdly never signed up, a Labour Foreign Office minister in the Lords, Baroness Chapman of Darlington (formerly Starmer’s political secretary), voiced strong disapproval: “The UK regrets Lithuania’s decision [and] has frequently raised concerns with Lithuania regarding withdrawal.” When I reported this to a former British ambassador to Latvia, Ian Bond, he groaned and described it as “nuts”.