President Donald Trump says the long-standing U.S.-U.K. alliance has weakened, citing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s refusal to permit American use of British bases during strikes on Iran.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump said Monday that the historic alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom has deteriorated, attributing the shift to British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s handling of recent U.S. military operations targeting Iran.
Speaking from the White House, Trump described the bilateral relationship as diminished compared to prior decades of cooperation. “This was the most solid relationship of all. And now we have very strong relationships with other countries in Europe,” he said, according to AFP, which reported that Trump highlighted France and Germany as increasingly supportive partners following Starmer’s initial refusal to allow the United States to use British military bases during strikes on Iran.
The U.S. and Britain have fought alongside each other in major conflicts since World War I, beginning with America’s entry into the war in April 1917. Successive administrations have referred to the partnership as a “special relationship,” reflecting deep military, intelligence and diplomatic coordination.
Trump suggested that cooperation has shifted. “It’s a different world, actually. It’s just a much different kind of relationship that we’ve had with your country before,” he said. “It’s very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was.”
In a telephone interview with The Sun, Trump said Starmer “has not been helpful,” adding: “I never thought I’d see that. I never thought I’d see that from the UK. We love the UK.”
When asked about accusations that Starmer was “pandering to Muslim voters” in his response to the Iran conflict, Trump replied, “it could be.”
Trump also criticized broader conditions in Britain, stating: “It’s also not such a recognisable country. I mean, you look at what happened over the last period of time and it’s very different. London is a very different place, with a terrible mayor. You have a terrible mayor there, some terrible people. But it’s a very different place.”
The remarks followed comments made in an interview with the Daily Telegraph in which Trump described Starmer’s reaction to events in Iran as “very disappointing.” He indicated that Britain’s refusal to allow American forces to launch strikes from U.S. bases on British territory — including the strategic facilities at Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford — marked a departure from historical precedent in the alliance.
Trump’s criticism comes amid ongoing U.S. military operations referred to by his administration as Operation Epic Fury, targeting what he has described as Islamic extremism tied to Iran. Canada and Australia have publicly maintained support for U.S. actions, while Britain’s government declined to provide base access for the strikes.
Political opposition parties in the United Kingdom, including the Conservatives and Reform UK, have argued that Starmer should have expressed stronger support for the United States and Israel during the escalation.
The comments underscore growing diplomatic friction between Washington and London as both governments navigate regional instability in the Middle East while balancing domestic political considerations.
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