Trump Rejects Starmer’s Late Offer: ‘Wars Already Won’

US President Donald Trump has sharply rebuked UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, declaring no need for British assistance in the Middle East now that “wars we’ve already won” are over, following London’s move to heighten readiness for its HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated: “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!”​

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Escalating Tensions

The barb comes amid a week-long US-Israeli air campaign against Iran, where Trump claims Tehran has “apologised and surrendered” to neighbors due to “relentless” strikes, hinting at further escalations targeting new areas. Trump previously mocked Starmer as “no Winston Churchill” after the UK initially denied US access to bases like Diego Garcia for offensive operations, only later permitting “defensive” use against Iranian missiles. Starmer defended the phased response, noting preparations since January with extra jets, personnel, and assets to Cyprus, while rejecting offensive involvement to prioritize Britain’s interests.​

UK Military Moves

The Ministry of Defence confirmed boosting HMS Prince of Wales’ readiness from 10 to five days’ notice to sail from Portsmouth, without committing to deployment, as RAF Typhoons, F-35s, and Wildcats bolster defenses over Jordan, Qatar, Cyprus, and beyond. This carrier, a 65,000-tonne Queen Elizabeth-class vessel capable of 36 F-35B jets and 1,600 personnel, underscores UK’s high-readiness posture amid protests at the US embassy in London demanding an end to strikes. No deployment decision has been made, but it aligns with sending HMS Dragon to protect Cyprus bases hit by Iranian drones.