Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on Keir Starmer, dismissing him as 'no Churchill' and expressing dissatisfaction with the UK's perceived uncooperative stance regarding US actions against Iran. This criticism came amidst a diplomatic storm and military tensions, particularly after an RAF base on Cyprus, Akrotiri, was targeted by a suicide drone believed to be from Tehran's proxies. The base experienced attacks on Sunday night and again on Monday, following Starmer's eventual approval for the US to use joint US/UK bases for operations, more than 24 hours after Washington commenced its operation against Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The UK's response to the crisis drew widespread criticism, particularly concerning the delayed deployment of naval assets. While military minnow Greece was expected to have warships protecting RAF Akrotiri days earlier, the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon, equipped with counter-drone capabilities, was announced to head to the Mediterranean only after French President Emmanuel Macron ordered a French frigate to the region. Macron also stated that US and Israeli strikes against Iran acted 'outside international law'. Questions were raised as to why a British vessel was not deployed sooner, given America's public military build-up.

Former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West, expressed dismay, stating 'Nelson will be spinning in his grave' over Britain's response and the dire state of the Royal Navy, which he claimed had scarcely any active ships or submarines globally. He lamented the government's failure to act sooner despite his earlier warnings about the deteriorating situation with Iran. Rear Admiral Chris Parry, a Falklands conflict commander, decried Labour's 'strategically illiterate' approach, suggesting the government was 'shamed into this token, paltry effort by the actions of other countries such as France and Greece'. HMS Dragon was expected to take a week to arrive from Portsmouth, where it was docked alongside other vessels undergoing maintenance or repairs, leading Shadow Armed Forces minister Mark Francois to comment, 'Britannia once 'ruled the waves' rather than being tied up in port'.

Donald Trump intensified his criticism, stating, 'I'm not happy with the UK. This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with.' He also referenced the UK's 'very, very uncooperative' stance regarding the Chagos Islands, a British territory in the Indian Ocean. Trump's remarks put pressure on Starmer to reconsider a controversial deal to hand the Chagos Islands to China ally Mauritius, while leasing back the crucial military base on Diego Garcia for £35 billion. Downing Street, however, maintained that work on the Diego Garcia deal continues, emphasizing its value as a military asset to both the UK and US, and affirmed the US and UK remained 'staunch allies'. Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones admitted Trump's frustration stemmed from the UK's non-involvement in the initial American and Israeli strikes, but reiterated the Prime Minister's stance that British Armed Forces would only engage when it's in British interests, with a clear plan and legal basis.

Amidst Trump's jibes, a former senior Nato commander, Gen Sir Richard Shirreff, defended Keir Starmer's approach, insisting Britain should not become embroiled in a war 'without a clear end point'. Shirreff likened Trump to 'another American president who had launched a war of choice' and argued that Starmer had acted 'with a cool head' by not allowing British bases to be used for initial strikes. He stressed that Britain must do what is right for Britain and avoid operations without clear strategies or defined end stages, drawing parallels to the Iraq War in 2004. This perspective garnered support from Downing Street, with Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray asserting that the Prime Minister's decision was made 'in the national interest' and with 'a cool head, with a real clarity of purpose'.

However, opposition politicians, particularly on the right, seized on Trump's criticism, claiming Starmer's stance jeopardized the UK's national interest and its relationship with the United States, its most important ally. Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride expressed concern that Trump was 'really questioning the relationship he has with us'. Stride also suggested that the delay in sending a British warship to protect RAF Akrotiri would cause the Cypriot government to question the British military presence on the island. Despite the Ministry of Defence describing the damage to Akrotiri as 'minimal' and successfully intercepting further drones, the government faced accusations of being unprepared, compounded by reports of HMS Dragon's delayed departure and the earlier arrival of a French vessel for similar defensive operations. Murray affirmed that HMS Dragon and Wildcat helicopters would deploy 'as soon as possible', building on increased defensive capabilities in the region.