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Summary
The United Kingdom’s foreign policy was dominated by a significant public rift with the United States over the conflict with Iran. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated the UK would not participate in military strikes against Iran, calling it “not our war,” and defended the decision as being in Britain’s national interest. He publicly disagreed with President Donald Trump’s stance, rejecting “regime change from the skies” and arguing for a negotiated settlement. Trump criticized Starmer, expressing disappointment with the UK's position and its initial blocking of British base use for strikes, stating the US-UK relationship was “not what it was.” Starmer subsequently spoke with Trump by phone and coordinated with European leaders on a diplomatic approach, while also chairing a COBRA meeting to assess the war’s economic impact.
In other diplomatic engagements, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited London to sign a new defense agreement with Starmer, with both emphasizing continued support for Ukraine. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also conducted a state visit, meeting with King Charles III. Domestically, Starmer faced internal party dissent and criticism over his Iran strategy, described as a rebellion by some reports. The government also released files related to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, revealing Starmer was warned of a “reputational risk” due to Mandelson’s association with Jeffrey Epstein. Separately, Russia expelled a British diplomat, accusing the UK of spying and involvement in a Ukrainian strike on Bryansk.
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UK resists US pressure on Iran conflict, focuses on diplomacy
IRBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the United Kingdom will not participate in military strikes against Iran. He stated the UK would not be drawn into a wider conflict, calling it 'not our war,' and defended the decision as being in Britain's national interest. Starmer said the US could use UK bases for such strikes but emphasized Iran was not targeting Britain with long-range missiles. He also criticized President Donald Trump over the strikes and rejected the idea of 'regime change from the skies.'
Mar 30
USUK Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly disagreed with Donald Trump's stance on Iran. Starmer said the UK does not support 'regime change from the skies' and argued Trump has no viable plan for the country, insisting any action must involve negotiation. Starmer defended his position after Trump's criticism, vowing to keep a 'cool head' and not let the UK be dragged into a broader Middle East conflict. He reiterated that the UK would defend itself but would not be pulled into a war.
Mar 30
Keir Starmer is being criticized for his cautious approach to the conflict with Iran and his response to Donald Trump's comments. Reports describe his position as a 'flip-flop' or 'tiptoeing,' with some suggesting it could leave the UK behind. The criticism centers on his use of a British base and his overall strategy.
Mar 19
President Donald Trump said he is 'very disappointed' with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for initially blocking the use of British air bases for strikes against Iran. Trump stated the US-UK relationship is 'not what it was' and that he is 'not happy with the UK' following the disagreement. The two leaders held a call after Trump's public criticism.
Mar 8
UATrump's criticism of allied nations over Iran
President Donald Trump publicly criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not providing British military bases for US strikes against Iran. Trump said he was "very disappointed" and claimed the special relationship between the two countries was diminished. Starmer initially refused access to the bases, which Trump said caused a significant delay in the US military action. Starmer defended his decision, stating that Trump has no viable plan for dealing with Iran and that the US must negotiate with the country instead. The UK leader brushed off the criticism, and the public disagreement has highlighted a strain in the US-UK alliance. Reports indicate Trump called Starmer directly as US and European approaches to Iran appeared to diverge.
Mar 6 — Mar 23
Starmer faces Labour criticism and Mandelson document controversy
GBThe UK government has released hundreds of files related to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. The documents reportedly show that Starmer was warned by top aides about the 'reputational risk' of the appointment, with some headlines accusing him of ignoring these warnings. The release of the files has prompted accusations of a cover-up and attempts to dodge parliamentary scrutiny.
Mar 12
King Charles hosts Nigerian President Tinubu on state visit
NGNigerian President Bola Tinubu traveled to the United Kingdom for a formal state visit. During the trip, he met with King Charles III and other British royals, and the King hosted a state banquet in his honor. Tinubu's delegation included the governor of Zamfara state. The Nigerian presidency suggested the UK's voice could have helped calm a domestic debate about persecution in Nigeria.
Mar 19
UK House of Lords reforms hereditary peerage system
Russia and UK exchange accusations amid diplomatic tensions
RULabour government plans to reset UK-EU relations
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