U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced disappointment over what he described as a shift in relations between Washington and London, following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s initial decision to withhold direct military support for strikes against Iran.
In an interview with The Sun, Trump suggested that the historically strong alliance between the two nations was no longer as firm as it once was.
“It’s very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was,” Trump said.
He contrasted Britain’s stance with that of other European allies, specifically highlighting France for its support.
Trump added that while the United States could conduct military operations in the Middle East independently, he believed the UK should have played a more immediate role.
“It’s not going to matter, but (Starmer) should have helped… he should have.
“I mean, France has been great. They’ve all been great. The UK has been much different from others,” he said.
Prime Minister Starmer later confirmed on Sunday that Britain would allow U.S. forces to use British bases for defensive operations, although these facilities were not utilized during the initial strike on Iran.
Responding to Trump’s comments, senior British minister Darren Jones defended the government’s cautious approach.
Speaking to Times Radio, he stressed that the U.S.-UK partnership remains vital, citing historical lessons, particularly from Britain’s involvement in the 2003 Iraq war.
“One of the lessons of Iraq was that it’s better to be involved in these situations when you are aligned with international partners, and as I say, with a clear legal basis in the plan,” he said.