Trump tells Britain he does not need its help to win Iran war
Last updated: March 8, 2026 | 17:45
Donald Trump and Keir Starmer announce an agreement between the two countries as they hold a press conference in Aylesbury, Britain. File / Reuters
People watch a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III land at RAF Fairford in south west England on March 6, 2026. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer finally gave his approval on March 1, for Washington to use the bases of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and Fairford in southwest England to bomb Iranian missile sites, after several Gulf countries were targeted by Iranian retaliations. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
President Donald Trump said on Saturday Britain was giving "serious thought" to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East, but added that the US does not need them to win the war with Iran, in the latest clash between the military allies.
Trump has repeatedly criticised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggesting this week that he helped "ruin" the countries' historically close relationship after London blocked initial U.S. use of British bases to attack Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he "will remember" the lack of British support during the conflict 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 said. "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!"
The social media post comes after Britain's defence ministry said on Saturday it was preparing the Prince of Wales aircraft carrier for possible deployment. But no final decision has been taken about whether to send it to the Middle East, a British official said.
STARMER DEFENDS STANCE ON BASES
Starmer has defended his decision not to allow US forces to use British bases to support initial strikes on Iran, saying he needed to be satisfied that any military action was legal and well planned.
He later granted US forces permission to use British bases for what he called defensive strikes against Iranian missiles in storage depots or launchers.
A truck drives out past a US Air Force B-1 Lancer bomber sitting on the tarmac at RAF Fairford in south-west England on Sunday. AFP
Asked about Trump's comments, British foreign minister Yvette Cooper told Sky News on Sunday: "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."
Starmer earlier this year criticised Trump's desire to buy Greenland and said his comments that European troops avoided frontline combat in the war in Afghanistan were "frankly appalling."
