US President Donald Trump said Britain was giving “serious thought” to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East, but made clear he did not believe Washington needed British help in the war with Iran.
“The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer – But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
Trump’s remarks came after Britain’s defense ministry said it was preparing the aircraft carrier Prince of Wales for possible deployment, although no final decision has been taken.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended his earlier refusal to allow US forces to use British bases for initial strikes on Iran, saying he wanted to ensure any action was legal and properly planned.
Responding to Trump’s comments, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told Sky News: “The thing I’ve learned doing this job is that you have to focus on substance and not on social media posts.”
“We’re not going to do things in terms of the rhetoric or hyperbole. We’re going to do things on really practical, calm, steady decision making. Because I think that actually the British character more widely is to do things in a serious and steady way.”
