Between the US and the UK, an unprecedented tension: 'They offer us help when we have already won the war'

A crucial turning point in the “special relationship” between the United States and the United Kingdom. In the background, the mark left on the asphalt of the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus, hit by a drone, while the public clash between American President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the management of the conflict in Iran explodes.

The tension was sparked by Trump, who turned the British contribution into a test of loyalty, accusing London of not having authorized the use of its facilities for the “first wave” of raids. The president belittled Starmer by stating that “he is not Winston Churchill” and emphasizing that “those loyal are already in.”

Also in the crosshairs is the alert status of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales: despite the departure window to the Middle East being reduced to a few days, Trump dismissed it on social media as an intervention that came “a bit late.”

Downing Street's response was firm, asserting full sovereignty over foreign policy decisions. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper clarified that foreign policy is not to be “outsourced,” recalling the lesson of Iraq to avoid military operations lacking solid legal foundations and a clear connection to national interest.

Starmer then drew a clear red line: strategic infrastructures — including Akrotiri in Cyprus, Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, and RAF Fairford — are granted to allies exclusively for specific and limited “defensive” missions. The only authorized objective is to counter Iranian missile threats, with a firm “no” to participation in offensive raids.

This stance, while fueling internal controversies, responds to delicate assessments of international law. Allowing the use of bases for attacks not related to pure self-defense would expose London to the risk of losing its status as a third nation, dragging it into co-belligerence and opening the door to possible retaliation.

The mobilization of the HMS Prince of Wales also coherently fits into this doctrine: it serves to ensure flexibility for potential evacuations and air defense, sending a signal of deterrence without automatically committing the United Kingdom to combat operations.

Despite the political friction and American accusations of wanting to intervene only "after victory is secured," practical and intelligence cooperation between the two sides of the Atlantic remains operational. The Iranian crisis, however, highlights a short circuit: Washington demands immediate operational alignment, while London claims decision-making autonomy. Coordination occurs, but not at any cost.