Donald Trump has slammed the UK and Sir Keir Starmer for joining the war against Iran after the US “already won”. On his platform, Truth Social, the US President said, “we don’t need them any longer” in response to two aircraft carriers potentially being sent to the region.
He wrote: “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. 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! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The Government has not yet joined offensive operations in Iran or announced a commitment to do so.
However, one aircraft carrier has been put on an advanced state of readiness in case it needs to be deployed to the Middle East, and the UK has allowed the US to use its bases for defensive operations.
Defence sources told the BBC that the crew of HMS Prince of Wales, one of Britain’s two aircraft carriers, has been told they must be ready to leave Portsmouth in five days.
The vessel is currently undergoing routine maintenance ahead of a planned deployment to the North Atlantic and Arctic later this year.
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A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We have been bolstering our UK military presence in the Middle East since January, and we have already deployed capabilities to protect British people and our allies in the region, including Typhoons, F-35 jets, air defence systems and an extra 400 personnel into Cyprus.
“Since the strikes began, we’ve had British jets in the sky shooting down drones and have sent additional assets to the region to further reinforce our air defences, including more Typhoons and Wildcat helicopters with drone-busting missiles.
“HMS Prince of Wales has always been on very high readiness, and we are increasing the preparedness of the carrier, reducing the time it would take to set sail for any deployment.”
