"The US president is very disappointed that Sir Keir Starmer has been uncooperative in the war against Iran, offering only limited logistical support to American forces. The prime minister's concession that RAF resources can be involved in defensive operations does not compensate for the prior refusal to put Britain's military assets at American disposal."
"Sir Keir is right to keep his distance from a military operation with no justification in law and incoherent objectives. But judicious caution doesn't protect the UK from repercussions if Mr Trump's irritation should mutate into a longer grudge."
"Post-Brexit Britain is more exposed to vindictive unilateral action. The president's power to impose tariffs on a whim has been curtailed but certainly not ended by a recent supreme court judgment. Meanwhile, there are other areas of UK-US commerce a multibillion-pound tech prosperity deal currently under negotiation, for example where a souring of diplomatic relations could have swift economic consequences."
Donald Trump's frustration with the UK stems from Sir Keir Starmer's refusal to fully commit British military resources to American operations against Iran, offering only limited defensive support. While Starmer's caution regarding a legally unjustified military operation is prudent, post-Brexit Britain faces greater exposure to Trump's potential vindictive actions compared to EU members like Spain. Trump has threatened trade cuts against Spain for similar opposition. Britain's vulnerability is heightened by its independent trade status outside the EU and ongoing negotiations for a multibillion-pound tech prosperity deal. Trump's tariff powers, though recently constrained by court judgment, remain substantial enough to inflict economic damage on the UK through unilateral action.
#uk-us-relations #iran-military-operations #trade-and-tariffs #brexit-consequences #trump-administration
Read at www.theguardian.com
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