Starmer holds call with Trump to discuss war in Middle East after latest rebuke over Iran

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Agence France-PresseMarch 8, 2026 at 06:23 PM

AI Summary

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump spoke on Sunday about the ongoing war in the Middle East. The call followed public criticism from Trump regarding Starmer's initial reluctance to engage in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, which began on February 28. Discussions included the current situation in the Middle East and military cooperation between the UK and US, specifically the use of RAF bases. Starmer also conveyed condolences for the deaths of six US soldiers. The statement released by Starmer's office did not mention whether the two leaders addressed the recent strain in their relationship.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Royal Air Force (RAF) 50% UK government 60% US-Israeli war with Iran 60% United Kingdom ×270% Iran ×370% Middle East ×280% United States ×480% Donald Trump ×590% Keir Starmer ×390%

Keywords

middle east war 100% donald trump 90% keir starmer 90% uk-us relations 80% military cooperation 70% iran 60% collective self-defence 50% raf bases 50% us soldiers 40%