𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The souring of relations between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer is hitting US-UK security co-operation, it has been claimed. Reports suggest the ‘first cracks’ have appeared in the relationship as the US President’s fallout with the Prime Minister over the Iran war continues.

Mr Trump has slammed the Labour leader as “no Winston Churchill” and repeatedly expressed his disappointment in Britain’s stance on the Middle East. The tensions have raised fears that the so-called special relationship between the UK and US has broken down, with Mr Trump admitting it is “not what it used to be”. Differences over the Iran war are now impacting relationships between officials, military personnel and diplomats, according to reports.

American officials seconded to British Government departments are increasingly being asked to leave meetings when sensitive information is shared, a source told the Financial Times, which broke the story.

The source also said the UK is slower at approving requests for American aircraft to use British military bases, like RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

They added that previously this would have been “rubber-stamped” by London, but now this is “stickier” and there is “that little bit of extra tension in the system”.

The UK’s initial refusal to allow America to use UK bases — including Fairford — to launch strikes on Iran has been one of the core reasons for the tensions between Mr Trump and Sir Keir.

The Prime Minister did later permit US forces to launch limited, defensive strikes from the sites, but offensive action remains off the cards.

British officials have reportedly insisted there has been no change to UK security policy, with one claiming that a strong working relationship between staff in London and Washington remains.

A UK government spokesperson told the FT: “The US is our principal defence and security partner and we continue deep co-operation in the national interest. This includes the US operating from British bases as they have done for decades.”

A Pentagon official said: “The US and the UK have a long-standing, strong defence relationship that has continued even through the present conflict.”