Donald Trump has slammed the Prime Minister for his lack of urgency in allowing the US to use British bases to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz.
The US President said Sir Keir “should have acted a lot faster”, after the UK today permitted defensive actions against Tehran in the allied waterway in the Gulf.
Mr Trump previously piled pressure on Nato allies, dubbing them “cowards” for refusing to offer warships to reopen the Strait.
Whilst refusing to send offensive aid, Downing Street said UK bases can now be used for US “defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships”.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
The latest developments in the conflict have seen Iran’s targeting of unarmed commercial shipping, civilian infrastructure including oil and gas facilities and its blocking of the Strait of Hormuz.
Up to now, the Government has allowed the US to use British bases only to hit missile sites targeting British interests in the region.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Mr Trump said: “It’s been a very late response from the UK.
“I’m surprised because the relationship is so good, but this has never happened before. They were really, pretty much our first ally, all over the world".
Donald Trump slammed the PM's response while speaking with reporters outside the White House
|SUPPLIED
Referring to Diego Garcia, he said: “They didn’t want us to use the island, the so called island, which for some reason they gave up rights to it.
“I was a little surprised in the UK, to be honest. They should have acted a lot faster".
The President confirmed he had spoken to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer when asked by a reporter.
Donald Trump wasn't the only one to criticise the Government's delayed decision to provide support, as opposing party figures also flagged a lack of urgency.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Shadow Defence secretary James Cartlidge said: “After weeks of dither and finger pointing, the Prime Minister has once again changed his mind and performed yet another screeching U-turn.
“The Prime Minister had the Navy’s only active minesweeper taken out of the Gulf a week before the war began. He dithered about sending a warship to help defend our base in Cyprus.
“And where we have been clear from the outset that we would have allowed our closest military ally to use our bases, Starmer has been all over the place.
“When we need strong leadership in challenging times, Starmer is weak and indecisive".
Further criticism came from the Liberal Democrats, which said granting further permission for the US to use British bases must first have a Parliamentary vote.
The party’s foreign affairs spokesman, Calum Miller, said: “We have warned from the start that the UK has to avoid being dragged into another war in the Middle East with no obvious end.
“This decision by the Prime Minister reminds us all of the disaster of Iraq and shows how we’re being drawn further and further down Trump’s slippery slope.
“Starmer must now let Parliament vote on the terms of the agreement with the US for their use of UK bases".
No10 defended the decision, underlining that the UK is "working closely with international partners to develop a viable plan to safeguard international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz".
Ministers condemned Iran’s expansion of its targets to include international shipping, and agreed that Iran’s "reckless strikes", including on Red Ensign vessels and those of close allies and Gulf partners, risked pushing the region further into crisis.
They confirmed that the agreement for the US to use UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region includes US defensive operations to degrade missile sites and capabilities.
They reaffirmed that the principles behind the UK’s approach to the conflict remain the same - defending British nationals, interests and allies, acting in accordance with international law, and "not getting drawn into the wider conflict".
More From GB News