Ana Faguy and Jack Fenwick, Political correspondent
US President Donald Trump has told the UK it does not need its aircraft carriers and accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of wanting to “join wars after we’ve already won”, as the US and Israel continue strikes related to Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the UK was “giving serious thought” to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East, then added the US does not “need them”. Downing Street has not responded.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed one of the UK’s two carriers has been placed on advanced readiness. The crew of HMS Prince of Wales in Portsmouth were told to be ready to leave in five days. HMS Queen Elizabeth is out of action for the foreseeable future.
Trump’s remarks followed reports of US bomber jets landing in the UK as the US began using British bases for “specific defensive operations”. He repeated his position speaking on Air Force One, saying: “We don’t need them… It’s not the right time. It would have been nice to have them two weeks ago.”
On CBS News, Trump said it was “a little bit late” to be sending ships and added when asked whether allies could do more to assist US operations: “I couldn’t care less. They can do whatever they want. The loyal ones are already in.”
The row began after the UK initially refused US requests to use British bases for joint action with Israel against Iran. Sir Keir later authorised “defensive” US strikes against Iranian missile sites from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, saying the government “does not believe in regime change from the skies”.
The prime minister told MPs President Trump had expressed disagreement with the UK’s earlier decision, but insisted it was his duty to judge “what is in Britain’s national interest.” He has also said the “special relationship” remains intact, with intelligence being shared on a 24/7 basis.
Sir Keir wrote in the Sunday Mirror that “at moments like this, the country needs seriousness, not political games” and that his Labour government is focused on protecting people at home and abroad. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused him of being “too afraid” to decide and “sitting on the fence”, saying “we are in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not.”
The UK has already said it will deploy a Royal Navy warship after RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was targeted by drones. HMS Dragon, which has air-defence capabilities, is being sent to the Mediterranean to bolster security around the base but will not sail until next week.
Trump has been openly critical of Sir Keir since the initial refusal, telling reporters the prime minister is “no Winston Churchill” and saying he was “not happy with the UK” because US planes had to fly extra hours when denied access to bases. For months Sir Keir had pointed to his relationship with Trump as a key success of his premiership; that appears strained by the dispute.
Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair told a private event that the US is an “indispensable cornerstone” of UK security and argued allies should “show up” regardless of who occupies the White House.
