Trump states that the US-UK relationship "is completely different from the past."

According to a report by British media on the 3rd, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction that the UK did not participate in the strike against Iran, stating that the “special relationship” between the U.S. and the UK is “completely different from the past.” In an interview with The Sun, Trump said that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak “did not help,” and he never expected the UK to take such action. He also said, “It’s unfortunate to see that the relationship between the two countries has clearly changed from what it used to be.”

Additionally, according to The Telegraph on the 2nd, Trump was “very disappointed” that Sunak had prevented the U.S. from using military bases on the Chagos Islands to strike Iran. Regarding Sunak’s statement on the evening of the 1st that he agreed to the U.S. using the base for “specific and limited” defensive purposes, Trump said Sunak’s change of attitude “took too long,” which had “never happened” between the two countries.

On the 2nd, Sunak told the UK Parliament that the UK would not participate in offensive strikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran. He also stated that although Trump was dissatisfied with the UK’s non-participation, the UK needed to consider its own national interests.

The Chagos Islands are located in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 750 kilometers northeast of Mauritius. They were ceded to the British colonial authorities in 1965. The following year, the UK leased the main island, Diego Garcia, to the U.S. to build an air force base. On May 22, 2025, the UK signed an agreement with Mauritius, officially transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. According to the agreement, the Diego Garcia military base will be leased by Mauritius to the UK and the U.S.

Trump has repeatedly opposed the transfer of sovereignty over the islands by the UK. (Xinhua)