Donald Trump has renewed his stinging criticism of UK prime minister Keir Starmer over the dearth of fast UK assist for the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
“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,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, including: “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!”
The put-down comes after the UK mentioned it could permit US forces to make use of bases in Fairford, Gloucestershire, and Diego Garcia within the Indian Ocean, for “specific and limited defensive purpose” after initially refusing the US permission.
Trump’s assertion got here hours after the UK ministry of defence announced that 4 US bombers had landed at an Royal Air Force base in Britain on Friday and Saturday and had already “started using British bases” to hold out operations “to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region, which is putting British lives at risk”.
The assertion additionally comes after British officers mentioned they have been preparing an aircraft carrier for attainable deployment to the Middle East amid rising tensions linked to the battle between the United States and Israel and Iran.
A UK defence ministry spokesperson mentioned: “HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness and we are increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment.”
Members of Starmer’s Labour occasion have been cautious about army involvement within the conflict. Critics of the UK authorities declare the prime minister has put home electoral issues earlier than a international coverage that historically values the “special relationship” with the US.
Earlier Saturday, at a regional safety convention in Miami, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, appeared to supply a veiled criticism of the UK and different nations, like Spain, that refused to let bases be used for strikes on Iran:
“At a time when we have learned that an ally, when you need them, may not be there for you, these are countries that have been there for us,” he mentioned, including: “We want you to see that when you are a friend and ally to the United States, it is a good thing and it is reciprocated back the other way.”
