A British Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Cyprus was attacked early Monday by Iranian-made drones, with one striking the runway, according to officials. The incident comes as British politicians remain wary of repeating past foreign policy decisions, particularly the 2003 Iraq War.
Drone Strike on RAF Base in Cyprus
Officials reported that the RAF base in Cyprus was targeted by drones of Iranian origin. One of the drones impacted the runway.
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer referenced the Iraq War in parliament on Monday, stating, “We all remember the mistakes of Iraq, and we have learnt those lessons.” The Iraq War resulted in the deaths of 179 UK soldiers, according to reports, and a subsequent UK inquiry found that Tony Blair acted on flawed intelligence when initiating the conflict.
Starmer also stated that the base “was not being used by US bombers.”
“Not-So Special Relationship”?
When questioned about criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump, a spokesman for Starmer affirmed that the UK and the US remain strong allies. The spokesman highlighted “decades of that special relationship, whether it’s on national security on trade, or beyond.”
However, some analysts suggest the relationship may be shifting. Evie Aspinall, director of the British Foreign Policy Group, noted Starmer faces a “very tight diplomatic tightrope” given the US’s continued importance regarding Ukraine and Greenland. Richard Whitman, an international relations expert at the University of Kent, suggested Trump’s remarks could signal a “new, not-so-special relationship.”
Concerns exist in London regarding potential “spillover” effects on Ukraine and the possibility of Trump focusing negative attention on the UK, which analysts say would be “clearly disastrous.”
Sophia Gaston, a foreign policy research fellow at King’s College London, suggested a “bold announcement on defence spending uplifts” could potentially salvage the situation.
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