President Donald Trump criticised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer again this week, expressing regret that the “special relationship” between the two nations has weakened after Britain initially hesitated to support U.S. strikes on Iran.
Starmer explained that the UK did not participate in the Tehran assault conducted by the United States and Israel because any British military action must be backed by a “viable, thought-through plan,” and he opposed pursuing “regime change from the skies.”
However, the Prime Minister later approved the use of British bases for limited defensive strikes aimed at weakening Tehran’s capabilities, following attacks by Iran on U.S. allies in the region involving drones and missiles. On Monday, a drone strike targeted a British base in Cyprus, reportedly launched by the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, according to Cypriot officials.
Trump noted that U.S. military operations did not require Britain’s participation but said the delay in support was disappointing. “It’s very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was,” he told the Sun newspaper in an interview released on Tuesday.
Earlier, Trump told the Telegraph that Starmer seemed “concerned about the legality” of strikes on Iran when considering whether to allow access to Britain’s strategically important air base, Diego Garcia.
Domestically, Starmer has faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum: left-leaning opponents demanded condemnation of the military action, while figures on the right, including Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, criticized him for not fully supporting Britain’s key security and intelligence ally.
Britain has historically valued its close ties with the U.S., nurtured by leaders such as Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, and Tony Blair through strong relationships with their American counterparts, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush.
Starmer, a centre-left former lawyer, initially impressed critics by establishing a solid rapport with Trump, but that relationship has been strained over the past year as the former U.S. president took a more confrontational stance on various issues.
Trump told the Sun that he never expected Britain to become a hesitant partner and instead praised France and Germany for their support.
Reflecting on past conflicts, he cited the Iraq War as an example, saying, “One of the lessons of Iraq was that it’s better to be involved in these situations when aligned with international partners, and with a clear legal basis in the plan.”