President Donald Trump criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday, saying the United States no longer needs British military support in the Middle East after what he described as a decisive victory in the conflict with Iran.
In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump reacted to reports that the UK Ministry of Defence had placed one of Britain’s aircraft carriers on advanced readiness for possible deployment to the region.
“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. “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.”
British officials recently confirmed that one of the country’s two aircraft carriers was being prepared in Portsmouth for potential mobilization as tensions escalated in the region.
A British destroyer, HMS Dragon, is also currently in Portsmouth awaiting departure for Cyprus after maintenance delays.
Trump also told a British newspaper he was disappointed with Starmer’s response to the conflict, saying the prime minister took too long to allow U.S. forces access to British bases in the region during the early stages of the military campaign.
While the United Kingdom did not participate in the initial strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, British forces have increased their presence across the region. Fighter jets have been flying missions over Jordan, Cyprus and Qatar to strengthen air defenses, and additional surveillance aircraft and helicopters have been deployed.
Starmer has defended his approach, saying his government is focused on maintaining stability while protecting British citizens and allies.
“The region has been plunged into chaos,” Starmer said, adding that Britain must provide “calm, levelheaded leadership in the national interest.”
He also reiterated that the United Kingdom believes the long-term solution to the crisis is a negotiated settlement in which Iran abandons its nuclear ambitions.
Speaking in Parliament, Starmer said the U.K. had learned lessons from past conflicts and would only take military action when it has a clear legal basis and a well-defined strategy.
“This government does not believe in regime change from the skies,” he said.
