"It was perhaps naive for No 10 ever to position Keir Starmer as a Donald Trump whisperer capable of persuading the unpredictable US president to step back from reckless decisions. The special relationship has been under severe strain in recent months over the UK's decision to give up sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, and the refusal of European countries to back Trump's play for Greenland."
"The prime minister now finds himself in the diplomatically precarious position of declining to endorse the strikes which have won support from Canada and Australia but also refusing to condemn them as many in his party would now like to see him do. At the moment, the UK's fence-sitting stance is that it played no part in the missile strikes, but that it will not mourn the ayatollah whose regime has menaced western countries."
"It seems the UK still calculates that criticising the US president is a difficult move, even when it is clear that Starmer was not onboard with Trump's actions, which the attorney general has warned are in breach of international law."
The UK government's attempt to position Prime Minister Keir Starmer as capable of influencing Donald Trump has proven ineffective. Despite efforts to build a close relationship, the UK had little sway over Trump's decision to bomb Iran and assassinate its leader. The special relationship has deteriorated over disputes regarding the Chagos Islands and Greenland. Starmer now occupies an awkward diplomatic position, refusing to endorse the strikes while declining to condemn them as many Labour MPs demand. The UK maintains it played no role in the missile strikes while expressing no moral judgment. Defence Secretary John Healey struggled to articulate a clear position when pressed on the legality of Trump's actions, despite the attorney general warning they breach international law.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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