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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Rowena Mason Whitehall editor

Starmer faces greater quandary over ‘special relationship’ after Iran attack

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer look at each other as they shake hands in front of US and British flags
Trump and Starmer shake hands during a press conference at Chequers last September. Photograph: Leon Neal/AP

It was perhaps naive of No 10 ever to position Keir Starmer as a “Donald Trump whisperer” capable of persuading the unpredictable US president to step back from reckless decisions.

The “special relationship” has been under severe strain in recent months over the UK’s decision to give up sovereignty of the Chagos Islands and the refusal of European countries to back Trump’s play for Greenland.

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