What the real deal re the international view on Starmer? Weren’t the Gulf nations and Cyprian government pissed at the UK for allegedly not doing enough?
I think Starmer has done just fine. Been firm with the US that the UK is not joining the US in attacks and will only operate in a defensive capacity. Trump doesn’t like it when he is told ‘no’…
2 Likes
Not sure. I’d imagine the Greeks/Cypriots were - given we did next to nothing to defend our base on their island.
I mean they haven’t ‘won’ yet.
But man the Trump-Starmer relations nosedived real quick. Starmer can’t stop getting kicked every 5 minutes everywhere he goes.
1 Like
Ireland has solved the problem of being asked to be involved by having basically zero military capability…
1 Like
He initially denied permission for the US to use the RAF bases. Then flip-flopped. I wish he’d stood firm on that and defended our own positions.
Trump is a massive crybaby bitch but normal service will be resumed once the Repubs are voted out, I’m sure. The Republicans have a massive hate boner for Europe.
1 Like
Not officially anyway….
2 Likes
I’ll stand corrected, but I thought we only allowed the US to use our bases for defensive operations? If I’m right on that, I don’t see the issue.
Yes, US B-1 Bombers are flying out of Falmouth on their way to conduct “defensive” bombing against Iranian energy facilities
1 Like
Starmer U turns are so frustrating and so pathetic.
He initially does the right thing then folds under minimal pressure.
Every other western leader is saving their career by standing up to this oaf.
He literally could have recovered the May council election stuff with Reform now struggling a little.
But Starmer bottles that too.
1 Like
Yes, that’s the official line. Whether that holds firm is one for the history books.
I’m really just entirely against the idea of this war involving Britain in anyway other than of course defending its own positions and people. I can’t rid myself of the thought of those children in that school and Khamenei’s 14-month old granddaughter in his compound being murdered by this act of zionist aggression.
2 Likes
I respected that Starmer told Trump to fuck off because that took balls - it was going to have consequences but at least it was a decision that required a backbone.
To then flip flop and u-turn on it again, but at such a late stage that he’s now managed to piss everyone off is just such a typical occurrence for him.
If international law matters that much to him, then fucking double down and tell everyone else to suck it up because that’s our position. To now scramble to get ships out of dock because you’re trying to people please is just such a bad look.
As a PM you can’t try to operate in a moralistic grey zone and attempt to play both sides all of the time every single time, sometimes decisions are binary and you just have to stick to your guns.
He’s so scared of making the wrong decision that he ends up making the wrong decision.
4 Likes
There is no legal basis as far as I am concerned, but the reality is that we have bases and personal at risk and therefore defensive action is justified. As for the US, I note you have linked an article but we seem to have been pretty clear on the matter with Trump.
Do you mean Fairford?
I lived in Falmouth for 4 years and there’s no airbase down there, there’s a RN base but only really for auxiliary vessels.
1 Like
Yeah, I completely missed that B-1 bombers were taking off from British bases. Also, the title is funny - defensive bombers. 
1 Like
Yeah I meant Fairford. My west country geography is horrible
1 Like
I may be being naive here, but could they just be refueling?
