The disagreement between Washington and London grew sharper after Donald Trump said the United Kingdom was acting too late on the Middle East conflict and argued that US and Israeli forces had already taken the lead. Britain’s Ministry of Defence said it had increased the readiness of HMS Prince of Wales and reduced the time needed for a possible deployment.
Trump said the US did not need British aircraft carriers and suggested the delay would not go unnoticed. His comments came after rising tension over Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision not to approve British involvement in the first wave of strikes on Iran. At the same time, London has allowed US forces to use British bases for certain defensive operations, while American B-1 bombers have arrived at RAF Fairford as pressure on Iran continues.
The exchange points to a growing gap between the two allies over how to respond to the crisis, even as both governments remain closely linked on regional security. The situation also shows how military coordination can continue behind the scenes, even when political messaging becomes more strained in public.
