The Financial Times of the UK reported today: "The growing rift between Trump and UK Prime Minister Starmer over Iran is beginning to strain the US-UK security partnership. US officials are sometimes excluded from sensitive British meetings, while the UK has slowed down its approval process for US military use of its bases. Disagreements between the two sides on Iran—particularly the UK's unwillingness to support the initial US-led strike operation—have further exacerbated tensions. Meanwhile, British diplomats say access to Washington’s decision-making circles has become increasingly limited following tighter controls within Trump’s inner circle."
Commentary: The emerging security cooperation rift between the US and UK over Iran marks the gradual unraveling of the so-called 'special relationship' under the pressure of unilateral and aggressive American policies. Trump’s insistence on military action against Iran met with Starmer’s refusal to cooperate and deliberate delays in approving base usage; US officials were excluded from key British sensitive meetings, while the UK found it harder to engage with Washington’s core decision-makers. At its essence, this reflects a clash between America-first risk-taking strategies and Europe’s self-preservation instincts. Once-solid allies now find themselves building barriers in military coordination and intelligence sharing—undermining critical logistical support for US operations in the Middle East and plunging the transatlantic security alliance into a crisis of trust. This also indirectly confirms that unilateral hegemony cannot indefinitely compel allies to bear the risks of war, as ongoing turmoil in the Middle East continues to erode Western unity.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861183504856171/
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