Trump Suggests He'd Abandon Britain in Falklands Fight

President Trump signaled Thursday that the United States might not come to Britain's defense if Argentina moved on the Falkland Islands again, citing the UK's refusal to help him in the war with Iran.

Asked in a GB News interview whether he would come to the UK's aid in the event of another invasion, Trump said: "I was there when they had the first war, that was a long time ago... you comported yourself very well, took it back very shortly. But it is a long way away."

He went further: "So, your country's not doing well. Don't forget you get a big percentage of your oil from the Strait of Hormuz and you weren't there to help me. Your country was not there to help me."

The remarks land days after Trump said Washington was reviewing its position on British sovereignty over the archipelago — a break from the neutral line the US has traditionally taken on the islands Argentina calls Las Malvinas.

Why He's Angry

The grievance is Iran. Under Keir Starmer's premiership the UK initially refused to join the US-Israeli offensive; Starmer later authorized British forces to support "defensive" strikes on targets such as missile launchers.

But London did not agree to Trump's demand that the Royal Navy help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran blockaded in response to the attacks. A fifth of the world's oil and gas typically moves through the waterway.

Trump branded Starmer "no Churchill" and said he had turned down a British offer of an aircraft carrier because it came too late. British ministers denied any such offer was made.