The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, has called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to cancel King Charles’s planned state visit to the United States amid rising tensions over the US-led military actions in Iran. The visit is scheduled for next month to mark 250 years of US independence.
Davey Cites Illegal War and Diplomatic Strain
Sir Ed Davey described the US airstrikes on Iran, launched last month, as an “illegal war” and criticized President Donald Trump for repeatedly insulting the UK over the refusal to allow initial US attacks from British bases. Davey argued that the state visit would serve as a diplomatic win for Trump, who has publicly attacked Sir Keir Starmer for denying permission for US forces to use UK bases in the first wave of strikes.
“Keir Starmer should advise the King that the state visit to the US scheduled for April should be called off,” Davey said, emphasizing the impact of the conflict on the Middle East and rising energy bills in the UK.
UK-US Military Cooperation and Political Fallout
Sir Keir Starmer initially refused US requests for British bases to support offensive strikes against Iran but later authorized “defensive” use of RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for missile defense operations. This decision prompted a series of personal criticisms from President Trump, including remarks comparing Starmer unfavorably to Winston Churchill.
On March 7, Downing Street confirmed a 20-minute phone call between Trump and Starmer, where the leaders discussed the Middle East situation and military cooperation. The UK prime minister expressed condolences over the deaths of six US soldiers, and both leaders indicated they would continue dialogue.
Political Responses and Next Steps
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated the UK government would avoid “rhetoric or hyperbole,” focusing instead on “calm, steady decision-making” concerning the conflict. Meanwhile, US military support through UK bases has commenced with American bombers arriving at RAF Fairford for defensive operations against potential Iranian missile attacks.
For more stories on this topic, visit our category page.