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The US-UK special relationship is under increasing strain as Donald Trump upends the post-war order but is it beyond repair? Vote in our poll to let us know what you think
Donald Trump and Keir Starmer in happier times, during the US President’s state visit to the UK(Image: AP)
Donald Trump has stepped up his attacks on Keir Starmer this week after the UK refused to join the initial wave of US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The US President lashed out at the Prime Minister on Tuesday, declaring “this is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with”.
Mr Starmer refused to allow use of British military bases for bombing raids at the weekend, but on Sunday agreed to let America use Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean, and RAF Fairford, to target Iran’s missile sites. It came after Tehran fired off retaliatory strikes at Israel and a raft of Gulf countries.
Appearing to refer to Diego Garcia, Mr Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday: “That island… It’s taken three, four days for us to work out where we can land there, it would have been much more convenient landing there as opposed to flying many extra hours, so we are very surprised. This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.”
The so-called special relationship between the US and the UK has long been prized by politicians on both sides of the Atlantic.
Mr Starmer worked hard to cultivate ties with Mr Trump in the run up to his second stint in the White House. He was able to capitalise on Mr Trump’s fondness for the UK – where his mother was born – and his love of the Royal Family but the pair’s rapport also surprised diplomats.
Last year, Mr Starmer sought to cast himself as a “Trump whisperer” who could act as the bridge between Europe and the US, particularly over the war in Ukraine.
But tensions have risen between the US and the UK since the start of the year as Mr Trump’s erratic foreign policy upends the world order.
Mr Starmer drew a line in the sand over Mr Trump’s desire to take over Greenland – a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, which is a Nato ally. And he also called out the US President for his offensive and incorrect claims that Nato forces “stayed a little off the frontlines” during the conflict in Afghanistan.
On Iran, relations have deteriorated further as Mr Trump appears furious he hasn’t been able to bully the UK into joining US-Israeli strikes.
Mr Starmer agreed to the use of British bases for “defensive” purposes – i.e. taking out Iran missile sites – but he has made it clear he is not convinced of the legal basis for the action.
Mr Trump hates not getting his own way and has been firing off broadsides at the PM with increasing regularity.
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