President Donald Trump has said the longstanding relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is “not what it used to be,” following diplomatic tensions over US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Speaking in an interview with British newspaper The Sun, Trump expressed disappointment with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s initial refusal to support Washington’s military action against Iran. The disagreement centred on the UK’s decision not to participate in the early phase of the strikes.
Starmer had earlier told Parliament that his government “does not believe in regime change from the skies,” signalling reluctance to back a direct military intervention. He later approved a US request to use two British military bases for what was described as a “specific and limited defensive purpose.”
Despite that concession, Trump criticised London’s stance. “This was the most solid relationship of all. And now we have very strong relationships with other countries in Europe,” he said, referencing closer ties with France and Germany.
The US president added that he had “never thought” he would see such a shift from the UK. “We love the UK. It’s just a much different kind of relationship. It’s very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was,” he said.
The so-called “special relationship” between the two allies has historically been anchored in defence collaboration and intelligence sharing dating back to World War II.
However, military involvement in the Middle East remains politically sensitive in Britain, largely due to the fallout from former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s support for the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. An official UK inquiry later concluded that Blair acted on flawed intelligence in taking the country to war, a conflict that claimed the lives of 179 British soldiers.
Defending the government’s position, a senior minister said the UK would only engage in military action where there was a clear legal framework and where national interests were directly at stake. “That is why we were not involved in the initial strikes in Iran,” he said.
He confirmed that two British bases—one in Gloucestershire and the joint UK-US facility on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean—had been cleared for American use.
Downing Street said the decision followed Iranian missile launches over the weekend that allegedly placed British interests and personnel at risk. Starmer later told Parliament that the UK had learned from the “mistakes of Iraq.”
Meanwhile, a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus was reportedly targeted by Iranian-made drones early Monday, with one drone said to have struck the runway. Officials clarified that the facility was not being used by US bombers.
Foreign policy analysts say the diplomatic friction places Starmer in a delicate position. Experts warn that any strain in US-UK relations could have broader implications, particularly regarding cooperation on Ukraine and other strategic matters.
Some observers suggest the situation could be stabilised if the UK signals stronger commitments to defence spending. Others caution that prolonged tension risks redefining what has long been described as a “special relationship” between the two nations.
Trump Says US-UK Ties ‘Not What They Used to Be’ Amid Iran Strike Dispute
