Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, declaring he is 'no Churchill' and accusing Britain of being 'very, very uncooperative' over American strikes on Iran. The comments mark a sharp deterioration in relations between Washington and London, with the United States President expressing frustration at Britain’s reluctance to fully back the military action.

The criticism comes as Britain scrambles to reinforce its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean after a drone strike targeted the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in Cyprus. The government announced that the destroyer HMS Dragon and additional air defence assets would be deployed, though the vessel is not expected to arrive for several days. France and Greece are set to have naval ships in position sooner, prompting accusations that Britain reacted too slowly.

Former senior naval figures and opposition politicians have condemned the response as inadequate, arguing that warships should have been dispatched earlier given rising tensions with Iran. They described the move as belated and symbolic, raising broader concerns about the reduced size and readiness of the Royal Navy.

Further strain has been added by disagreement over the future of the Chagos Islands, which Britain plans to transfer to Mauritius while leasing back the strategic military base on Diego Garcia. Despite the row, Downing Street insists the alliance between Britain and the United States remains strong and that military decisions will be taken only when they serve clear national interests and rest on a legal basis.