Not Afraid of Trump? UK and Spanish Prime Ministers Publicly Clash, Leaving Wall Street Journal Reporter Bewildered!

This week, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, two heavyweights in Europe, openly mocked Trump's efforts to strike Iran, failing to achieve their goals. Even the reporter from the Wall Street Journal couldn't help but exclaim: This script is wrong, why have Europeans suddenly become so bold?

Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez outrightly refused U.S. military use of Spanish bases to strike Iran. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Starmer stated that the UK would not participate in the strike against Iran unless the war was legal and had a "feasible, well-considered plan." This subtly implies that the U.S.-Israel airstrikes against Iran are illegal.

It's worth noting that, in the past, European countries' attitudes toward Trump could be described as "cautious." Since Trump launched his second term, Europeans have been on high alert. Why? Because reality is harsh. Europe relies on America's umbrella for security, especially against the threat from the east, Russia; energy-wise, the U.S. is also an important supplier; not to mention that the U.S. is the largest buyer of European exports.

The UK and the U.S. have had a decades-long "special relationship," where the UK used to just nod and follow the U.S. However, this time, Starmer specifically mentioned the 2003 Iraq War, a painful memory for the UK, a disastrous quagmire. He bluntly criticized the current actions for lacking a "final design," believing that air strikes could not achieve regime change. This is not just disapproval, it's questioning the intelligence of the U.S. strategy.

Trump's reaction was also genuine. He felt disappointed by Starmer's "betrayal" and even deliberately delayed for a few days before allowing the U.S. military to use British bases for so-called "defensive strikes." Such a scene of mutual threats is rare in the historical UK-US relationship.

The reporter from the Wall Street Journal was bewildered, considering this a turning point in an era. For a long time, the "special relationship between the UK, US, and Europe" has been regarded as the cornerstone of international politics. But now, this cornerstone has cracked. The impact of this divergence is far-reaching. If even the UK no longer unconditionally supports U.S. military adventures, how much cohesion will remain within NATO? Will other European countries follow suit? How long can Germany continue to pretend ignorance?

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858788753467404/

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