As the United States and Israel continue to launch strikes against Iran, US President Donald Trump has stated that he does not require the United Kingdom's aircraft carriers and accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of attempting to "join wars after we've already won." Trump wrote on social media that the United Kingdom was "giving serious thought" to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East, but that the United States did not "need" them. Downing Street has not provided an answer. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed earlier on Saturday that one of the UK's two aircraft carriers has been placed on advanced readiness. Trump's comments came after US bomber jets were seen landing in the UK as the US started using British bases for "specific defensive operations".
Read More: UK aircraft carrier given five days to be ready to deploy
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday, "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 fine, Prime Minister Starmer; we no longer require them; however, we will remember. "We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!"
Speaking on Air Force One in response to a question about the use of UK bases in the war, Trump referred to his post on Truth Social, saying: "We don't need them," appearing to reference the carriers.
"It's not the right time," he continued. It would have been nice to have them two weeks ago."
The British government has defended its decision not to participate in the initial US and Israeli strikes on Iran and has made it clear that it will not participate in the larger offensive campaign in the Middle East. Earlier in the week, the prime minister told MPs: "President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest."
Sir Keir wrote in the Sunday Mirror that "at moments like this, the country needs seriousness, not political games" although he has not responded directly to Trump's post. "My Labour government is focused on protecting British people at home and abroad, while opposition parties seek to undermine Britain on the world stage," he added. The prime minister has been criticized for "sitting on the fence" regarding the Middle East conflict by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. She stated, "We are in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not," when she gave a speech on Saturday at the Conservative Spring conference. The back and forth between Trump and Sir Keir began after the UK initially refused to permit the US to use UK bases for its joint offensive with Israel against Iran.
Later, Sir Keir stated that the UK government "does not believe in regime change from the skies" and gave his approval for "defensive" US action against Iranian missile sites located at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. The decision, according to the UK prime minister, was made following a change in the circumstances on Sunday, when Iran's "outrageous" response became "a threat to our people, our interests, and our allies."
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| Starmer, according to Trump, wants to "join wars after we've already won,"(Image: Getty Images) |
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday, "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 fine, Prime Minister Starmer; we no longer require them; however, we will remember. "We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!"
Speaking on Air Force One in response to a question about the use of UK bases in the war, Trump referred to his post on Truth Social, saying: "We don't need them," appearing to reference the carriers.
"It's not the right time," he continued. It would have been nice to have them two weeks ago."
The British government has defended its decision not to participate in the initial US and Israeli strikes on Iran and has made it clear that it will not participate in the larger offensive campaign in the Middle East. Earlier in the week, the prime minister told MPs: "President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest."
Sir Keir wrote in the Sunday Mirror that "at moments like this, the country needs seriousness, not political games" although he has not responded directly to Trump's post. "My Labour government is focused on protecting British people at home and abroad, while opposition parties seek to undermine Britain on the world stage," he added. The prime minister has been criticized for "sitting on the fence" regarding the Middle East conflict by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. She stated, "We are in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not," when she gave a speech on Saturday at the Conservative Spring conference. The back and forth between Trump and Sir Keir began after the UK initially refused to permit the US to use UK bases for its joint offensive with Israel against Iran.
Sir Keir later approved "defensive" US action against Iranian missile sites from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, and said the UK government "does not believe in regime change frThe crew of
HMS Prince of Wales in Portsmouth have been told they must be ready to leave in five days.
This has led some people in Sir Keir's government to dismiss the possibility that the carrier will be sent to the Mediterranean to help defend British interests that are being threatened by the conflict in the Middle East. The other aircraft carrier owned by the United Kingdom,
HMS Queen Elizabeth, is currently out of service. After an RAF base in Akrotiri, Cyprus, was hit by drones, the UK has said it will send a Royal Navy warship. The air-defense-equipped HMS Dragon is being sent to the Mediterranean to improve base security, but it won't leave until next week. On Saturday, Trump stated to CBS News, the US partner of the BBC, "It's a little bit late to be sending ships, right? a bit behind schedule." Trump responded, "I couldn't care less," when asked if US allies could do more to support US operations in Iran. They can act however they please. Already enrolled are the devoted. om the skies".
The decision, according to the UK prime minister, was made following a change in the circumstances on Sunday, when Iran's "outrageous" response became "a threat to our people, our interests, and our allies."
Trump told journalists in the Oval Office earlier this week he was "not happy with the UK" over the initial decision to refuse use of UK bases, which led to US planes "flying many extra hours" to carry out strikes last weekend. Additionally, he stated to reporters that Sir Keir is "no Winston Churchill." When speaking to reporters on Thursday, Sir Keir insisted that the "
special relationship" between the United States and the United Kingdom had not been strained. He stated, "Look, the special relationship is operating right now." "We're sharing intelligence on a 24/7 basis in the usual way. That is the unique connection." On Friday, a US B-1 bomber was seen landing at RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire.
For many months Sir Keir has pointed to his relationship with Trump as one of the biggest successes of his premiership.
That is no longer the case. This is just the latest example of President Trump being openly critical towards the prime minister, and it is clear he is still angry the UK blocked him from using British bases when he first launched strikes against Iran.
In the meantime, former Prime Minister
Sir Tony Blair, who led the UK into the
Iraq war, stated at a private event that allies should "show up" regardless of who the current president is, and that the United States was an "indispensable cornerstone" of the UK's security.
Source: BBC
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