Donald Trump said the US-UK relationship is “not like it used to be”, citing policy differences with the British government over military cooperation linked to the Iran war and regional security operations.
In an interview with British newspaper The Sun, Trump said the historic alliance between Washington and London had shifted in character. “This was the most solid relationship of all. And now we have very strong relationships with other countries in Europe,” he said, referencing closer engagement with France and Germany.
The comments follow the decision by Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to permit the United States to use British military bases in Cyprus for operations connected to the ongoing conflict with Iran. The Cyprus facilities are strategically significant for Middle East deployments and regional power projection.
Trump said Starmer “has not been helpful”, adding that he had not expected such a position from the United Kingdom. “I never thought I’d see that from the UK. We love the UK,” he said.
Speaking by telephone from the White House on Monday evening, Trump described the current transatlantic dynamic as fundamentally altered. “It’s a different world, actually. It’s just a much different kind of relationship that we’ve had with your country before,” he said.
The remarks highlight strains within the long-standing US-UK defence partnership at a time of heightened geopolitical tension in the Middle East. The Iran conflict has placed renewed focus on allied military coordination, NATO cohesion and the strategic use of overseas bases. It also carries implications for regional energy security, shipping routes and stability across oil and gas producing states.
The United Kingdom has sought to balance its security commitments with diplomatic considerations amid the escalating confrontation between Washington, Israel and Tehran. The evolving dispute underscores broader recalibration within transatlantic alliances as European governments reassess defence, foreign policy and energy security priorities.
