Donald Trump has once again criticised Keir Starmer over the UK’s stance in the Middle East conflict, saying the US does not need allies to “join wars after we’ve already won”.
The comments come as four American bombers landed in the UK and the US began using British bases for “specific defensive operations” on Saturday, reports Breaking News.
Trump was referring to reports that the UK was preparing an aircraft carrier in response to the crisis in the region.
The UK Ministry of Defence said it was increasing the readiness of HMS Prince of Wales and reducing the time needed to set sail, but confirmed no decisions had been made to deploy the warship, reports Breaking News.
The US president posted on his Truth Social platform: “The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East.
“That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer — But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”, reports Breaking News.
Starmer’s initial refusal to allow US military action prompted a series of attacks from Trump in recent days, including calling the prime minister “not Winston Churchill”.
Trump also described Britain’s response as “very disappointing” and said the UK should allow the US to use its bases “without question or hesitation”, reports Breaking News.
Starmer later authorised “defensive” US strikes against Iranian missile sites from UK bases.
The prime minister has sought to downplay tensions, with Downing Street citing Starmer’s previous remarks that the special relationship is “in operation right now” as intelligence is shared and cooperation continues, reports Breaking News.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that US forces began using British bases for “specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region” after American bombers arrived at a Gloucestershire base.
The first 146ft B-1 Lancer landed at RAF Fairford on Friday evening, followed by three more on Saturday morning, reports Breaking News.
A Merlin helicopter is also being sent to the region for aerial surveillance, while RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets continue operations over Jordan, Qatar, and Cyprus.
Trump had earlier warned that more Iranian officials could become targets, posting: “Today Iran will be hit very hard!”, reports Breaking News.
Questions remain over the UK’s future involvement, with deputy prime minister David Lammy suggesting RAF jets could legally strike Iranian missile sites used against British interests in the Middle East.
Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton, indicated the UK could take part in more proactive strikes in the future, saying “campaigns and conflicts evolve over time”, reports Breaking News.
The Iranian ambassador to the UK told the BBC that Britain should be “very careful” about becoming further involved in the conflict.
The UK has faced criticism over the defence of Cyprus, where a UK base was hit by a drone earlier this week.
The air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week, while France and Greece have already deployed forces to protect the island, reports Breaking News.
One reason for the delay is that the Type 45 destroyer is being prepared to stay at sea for several months if required, rather than being rushed into a short-term deployment.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused the prime minister of being “too scared to make foreign interventions” and said the UK is “in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not” in a Saturday speech, reports Breaking News.
Starmer defended his decision not to permit US use of British bases in the initial strikes against Tehran, suggesting it may have been unlawful and emphasising the need to keep a “cool head”.
The prime minister later agreed to allow the US to conduct defensive strikes from Fairford and Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean, reports Breaking News.
Writing in the Sunday Mirror, Starmer said the country needs “seriousness, not political games”.
He added: “While opposition parties seek to undermine Britain on the world stage, my Labour Government is focused on protecting British people at home and abroad”, reports Breaking News.
Former prime minister Tony Blair has reportedly also weighed in, saying at a private event that he believed the UK should have supported Trump immediately.
“I am not saying anything that I haven’t already said to the government… I think we should have backed America from the very beginning”, Blair told an event hosted by Jewish News, according to the Daily Mail, reports Breaking News.
The Liberal Democrats urged Starmer to resist US pressure, accusing Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of wanting Britain to “blindly follow Trump into his reckless war”.
“The Prime Minister must stand firm against Trump’s bullying and avoid getting sucked further into this illegal and damaging war”, Sir Ed Davey said, reports Breaking News.
In other developments:
– Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE reported intercepting missiles and drones from Iran hours after the Iranian president apologised for attacks on “neighbouring countries”, reports Breaking News.
– Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, a prominent cleric in Iran, urged the Assembly of Experts to act quickly and appoint a new supreme leader, reports Breaking News.
– A third UK government charter flight is scheduled to leave Muscat, Oman, on Sunday, with plans to charter a commercial flight from Dubai early next week, reports Breaking News.
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