Trump Emphasizes Washington's Military Independence and Attacks Starmer
In sharp statements that may increase tensions between Washington and London, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States does not need Britain's military support in the Middle East, threatening to remind London of what he described as its lack of support during the war with Iran.
Trump stated that he informed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that his country "has already won the war" and does not need any additional help, adding via his platform "Truth Social":
"The United Kingdom, our once-great ally and perhaps the greatest of them all, has finally started seriously considering sending aircraft carriers to the Middle East. That's fine, Prime Minister Starmer, we no longer need them... but we will remember."
These statements come after reports indicated that the British Royal Navy is preparing to deploy the HMS Prince of Wales to the Middle East within five days, should the government decide to bolster its military presence in the region.
Trump added in remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday evening that British support "would have been good two weeks ago," emphasizing that the United States no longer needs it now.
* Starmer Criticized and British Calls for Support for Washington
Trump had described Starmer last week as "not Winston Churchill," after the latter refused to allow the use of the joint military base at Diego Garcia to launch strikes against Iran.
For his part, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair stated that support for Washington should have been provided from the beginning of the escalation with Iran, noting that the U.S. request was limited to using British bases for refueling.
He added that the current conflict "is not like the Vietnam War or the Iraq campaign in which thousands of British troops participated," emphasizing that the relationship with the United States is "an essential cornerstone of Britain's security."
* Financial Pressures and Security Warnings
At the same time, British Defense Secretary John Healey is preparing to request additional funding to cover the costs of the increasing military deployment in the Middle East, amid fears of escalating disputes with the Treasury led by Finance Minister Rachel Reeves.
British security agencies have warned of the possibility of Iranian cyberattacks targeting civilian and government infrastructure, while the Iranian ambassador in London, Seyed Ali Mousavi, indicated that any deeper involvement of Britain in the war would be considered justification for Tehran to exercise its "right to self-defense," urging the British government to "exercise extreme caution" in its military decisions.
