President Donald Trump has criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the delayed support in the ongoing conflict with Iran. In a social media post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the US does not need the UK's aircraft carriers, accusing Starmer of seeking to 'join wars after we've already won'.
Key Takeaways
President Donald Trump criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for delaying support in the US-led strikes on Iran. The UK has since allowed limited use of its bases for defensive operations.
- Trump claims US does not need UK aircraft carriers, calls Starmer's actions 'joining wars after they've already won'
- UK places HMS Prince of Wales on advanced readiness but denies plans to join offensive campaign
- US uses RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia for defensive strikes against Iran
- Starmer defends decision, emphasizing legal basis and national interest
The UK has placed one of its two aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales, on advanced readiness. However, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson clarified that no final decision had been made regarding deployment to the Middle East.
Trump's comments came after US bomber jets were seen landing in the UK as part of 'specific defensive operations'. The UK government has emphasized its stance against joining the wider offensive campaign but agreed to allow limited use of British bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missile sites. Starmer defended his decision, stating that any military action must have a lawful basis and be well-planned.
The crew of HMS Prince of Wales in Portsmouth was told to be ready to leave within five days, raising speculation about potential deployment to the Mediterranean. However, people inside Starmer's government played down this idea. The UK's other aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is currently out of action.
In response to Trump's criticism, Starmer insisted that the 'special relationship' between the US and the UK remained strong, citing ongoing intelligence sharing. He also emphasized that the decision not to join the initial strikes was made in Britain's national interest.
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