US President Donald Trump has described British aircraft carriers as 'toys' in his latest criticism of Nato allies over their lack of involvement in joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Trump said he told the UK: 'Don’t bother, we don’t need it.'
Trump alleged that he requested two aircraft carriers from the UK, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially rejected and then offered to send after the conflict. Downing Street has denied that any request was made or denied. Starmer has stated that UK bases would not be used for offensive strikes against Iran, though defensive operations are permitted.
The UK has deployed HMS Dragon to the eastern Mediterranean after an Iranian-made missile was launched from Lebanon at the UK’s RAF base in Cyprus. Officials are also considering deploying a Royal Navy vessel or civilian ship to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which has been closed, affecting global energy movements.
Trump also reacted derisively to an Iranian missile launch towards the US-UK base on Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Islands, which the UK has agreed to hand over to Mauritius. He said he was 'very disappointed' with Nato allies, criticising their offer to help only after the conflict ends.
Starmer, meanwhile, travelled to Finland for the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) leaders' summit, where he warned of a 'war on two fronts'—Ukraine and Iran. He confirmed that the Ukrainian navy would join a JEF exercise for the first time, praising Kyiv's drone warfare capabilities.
