US President Donald Trump has described British aircraft carriers as 'toys' in his latest criticism of Nato allies, claiming he told the UK 'don't bother, we don't need it' regarding their offer of naval support. Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Trump said he was 'very disappointed' with allies' lack of involvement in joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Trump alleged he had requested two aircraft carriers from the UK, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially rejected and later offered to send. Downing Street has denied that any request was made or denied. The UK has sent HMS Dragon to the eastern Mediterranean after an Iranian-made missile was launched from Lebanon at the UK's RAF base in Cyprus.
Trump also derided the launch of an Iranian missile towards Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Islands, which the UK has agreed to hand over to Mauritius. He said Iran fired 'one missile 2,500 miles' at the 'now famous island that the UK was very afraid to give us'. The UK has said Diego Garcia can be used for defensive strikes against Iran's retaliation.
Starmer, who has refused to respond directly to Trump's insults, travelled to Finland on Thursday for the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) leaders' summit. He warned that the west faces a 'war on two fronts' – Ukraine and Iran – and confirmed the Ukrainian navy would join a JEF exercise for the first time in the autumn.
