US-UK relationship ‘not like it used to be’

LONDON: President Donald Trump said the historical relationship between the United States and Britain is “not like it used to be”, amid a diplomatic bust-up over US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer — who told parliament his government “does not believe in regime change from the skies” — has drawn Trump’s wrath by initially refusing to have any role in Washington’s war with Iran. Starmer later agreed to a US request to use two British military bases for a “specific and limited defensive purpose”. But the episode angered Trump, who told British daily newspaper The Sun: “This was the most solid relationship of all. And now we have very strong relationships with other countries in Europe,” singling out France and Germany.
Starmer has cultivated a warm relationship with the unpredictable Trump, who was given an unprecedented second state visit to Britain last year.
The so-called special relationship between the World War II allies is largely built on long-standing defence cooperation and intelligence sharing. — AFP