A diplomatic rift has emerged between Washington and London amid the raging Middle East war, with President Donald Trump openly stepping up criticism against UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his response to US strikes on Iran.
The diplomatic row erupted after the UK initially declined to allow its bases to be used for the first wave of US strikes on Iran. The disagreement has since unfolded as the British government announced it would deploy a Royal Navy warship to the eastern Mediterranean to reinforce security around RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus after drone strikes hit the runway at the British base.
Donald Trump, speaking during a meeting in the Oval Office with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, expressed disappointment, saying, “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” he said, criticising Keir Starmer’s reluctance to immediately back military action.
The US President has criticised Starmer several times this week after the UK leader said neither the UK military nor its air bases were involved in the first wave of US and Israeli strikes on Tehran, which killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
UK SENDS WARSHIP TO CYPRUS
Amid growing threats, the UK confirmed it would send HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, to the eastern Mediterranean.
Keir Starmer said he had spoken to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and confirmed that Britain would also deploy helicopters equipped with counter-drone technology. “The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there,” he wrote on X. “We will always act in the interest of the UK and our allies.”
Two Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet missiles will also be deployed. The Ministry of Defence described HMS Dragon as “one of the most capable air defence warships in the world”, capable of launching eight missiles in under ten seconds.
Britain currently has no other major warship stationed in the Mediterranean. Of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 destroyers, three are available while the others are in maintenance.
The US President also criticised Britain over other issues, including the decision to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, home to the joint US-UK base at Diego Garcia. “I’m not happy with the UK either,” he said, adding that Spain and the UK had been “very uncooperative” on broader matters.
NO REGIME CHANGE FROM THE SKIES: STARMER
Keir Starmer told Parliament that Britain had learnt from its experience in supporting the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and insisted that any military action must have a “viable, thought-through plan”. He also said he did not believe in “regime change from the skies”.
However, Britain later allowed the US to use certain UK facilities for limited and defensive operations after Iran launched drones and missiles at US allies in the region.
The Middle East crisis has brought unusual strain on one of the West’s closest allies.
With inputs from agencies
