Starmer: Business as usual for UK-US special relationship; UK sending 4 extra Typhoon jets to Qatar

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the country’s so-called special relationship with the United States is operating as normal, after US President Donald Trump earlier this week criticized the UK and said Starmer had hurt the pair’s historically close ties.

“We’re sharing intelligence on a 24/7 basis in the usual way. That is the special relationship. That is the special relationship in operation,” Starmer tells a press conference on Thursday.

Starmer also says four additional Typhoon fighter jets will be sent to Qatar as the conflict in the Middle East escalates, insisting that the UK has the right plan for defense.

Britain’s cautious response to the Iran crisis and to a drone attack on its key military base in Cyprus have led to doubts among partners about its military effectiveness.

Starmer says Britain has the right plan and had already been pre-deploying military equipment across the region before the start of the war.

“My focus is providing calm, levelheaded leadership in the national interest,” Starmer says.

“That means deploying our military and diplomatic strength to protect our people, and it means having the strength to stand firm by our values and our principles, no matter the pressure to do otherwise.”

He said Britain was sending four additional Typhoon jets to join the squadron in Qatar to strengthen our defensive operations there and in the region.