U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washington and Westminster deepened over the conflict involving Iran. The call came less than a day after Trump criticised Britain’s response to U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
According to Downing Street, the two leaders discussed the escalating situation in the Middle East and military cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom, including the use of British airbases for regional defence operations. Starmer also expressed condolences over the deaths of several U.S. service members killed during the ongoing crisis.
The call followed a week of sharp criticism from Trump, who accused the British government of failing to support the U.S. campaign against Iran strongly enough. The U.S. president said he was “not happy with the UK” and suggested Britain had tried to join the conflict only after Washington had already secured victory.
Trump also criticised Starmer personally, saying the British leader was “no Winston Churchill”, as tensions between the two allies became increasingly public.
The dispute began after Britain declined to take part in the initial U.S.-led strikes on Iranian targets. The British government said any decision to join military action must have a clear legal basis and a defined strategy.
Despite refusing to participate in the wider offensive campaign, Westminster later approved the limited use of British airbases for defensive operations supporting allied forces in the region. British fighter jets have also been deployed to intercept Iranian missiles and drones targeting allied countries.
Speaking on Sunday, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the prime minister’s approach, saying Starmer was right to prioritise Britain’s interests.
She said that while the United States remains one of the UK’s closest allies, the two countries will not necessarily agree on every foreign policy decision. Cooper added that Britain would continue providing defensive support when Iranian attacks threaten partner countries where British citizens are living.
Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela has secured a fourth successive election victory for his Labour Party, extending its hold on power, though with ...
Nicaraguan indigenous leader and former lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera has died in state custody at the age of 73, according to local media reports citing h...
At least 46 people, including six children, have been killed in a powerful explosion at a building used to store mining explosives in northeastern Mya...
Thousands of residents blocked Austria’s Brenner motorway on Saturday (30 May), shutting down a major north-south transport route through the Alps i...
South Africa's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered an unexpected setback after the national team failed to depart for Mexico as sch...
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday (30 May).
U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan ahead of Armenia’s parliamentary elections on 7 June, backing the leader as the country moves closer to the West and further away from Russia.
FIFA has confirmed that Iran has moved its World Cup training base from the United States to Mexico, citing the ongoing war in the Middle East and related security concerns.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told confidants that Israel has limited ability to influence U.S. President Donald Trump’s decisions on Iran, as Washington negotiates a deal aimed at ending the three-month-old war, according to two Israeli officials.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May), drawing attention from defence observers and regional analysts.
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday (30 May).
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations, citing Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union. The move is seen as the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the longtime allies ahead of Armenia's parliamentary election on 7 June.
Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela has secured a fourth successive election victory for his Labour Party, extending its hold on power, though with a reduced majority compared with previous polls.
Nicaraguan indigenous leader and former lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera has died in state custody at the age of 73, according to local media reports citing his family.
At least 46 people, including six children, have been killed in a powerful explosion at a building used to store mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar, according to local media reports.
South Africa's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered an unexpected setback after the national team failed to depart for Mexico as scheduled on Sunday (31 May) because some players and officials had not yet received their visas.
Five people have died after a mine shaft collapsed during an illegal mining operation in southwestern China, state media reported on Sunday (31 May), just days after the country's deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade claimed at least 82 lives.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment