Send extra jets to Qatar

UK to send extra jets to Qatar as PM plays down rift with Trump

By Jack Guy, Charlotte Reck and James Frater

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the “special relationship” between Britain and the US remains intact despite criticism from President Donald Trump over the country’s contribution to the war against Iran.

“The special relationship is in operation right now,” Starmer said at a press conference Thursday.

“We are working together in the region, we’re sharing intelligence on a 24/7 basis in the usual way. That is the special relationship,” he said.

President Trump lashed out at Starmer on Monday for denying the US permission to use British military airbases in the Chagos Islands for offensive strikes against Iran.

“This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” said Trump.

But Starmer played down any suggestion of a rift between the two leaders.

“Clearly it’s for the president to take decisions that he considers in the national interest the right decisions for the US,” he said.

“Equally, it’s for me as the British Prime Minister, to take decisions that I consider to be in the best interest of the United Kingdom. There’s nothing controversial about that,” added Starmer.

Assets deployed: The Prime Minister also defended Britain’s preparedness for the conflict with Iran, which has come under scrutiny after a British airbase on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus was hit by a drone attack on Monday.

Starmer said that defensive assets had been deployed to Cyprus in January and February, adding that officials “continue to bolster the capability that we have there to keep our people safe.”

The Prime Minister also mentioned that four more Typhoon fighter jets would be deployed to Qatar, and that the government has chartered an aircraft to help with repatriation efforts for those stranded in the Middle East.