LONDON, March 5 – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Thursday the deployment of four more Typhoon fighter aircraft to Qatar as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East region.
The decision comes as Britain faces scrutiny over its measured approach to the Iran crisis and following a drone strike on a crucial military installation in Cyprus, which has raised questions among allies about the nation’s military capabilities.
President Donald Trump has also taken aim at Starmer, accusing the British leader of not offering adequate backing for U.S. military actions against Iran.
During a Thursday press briefing, Starmer defended Britain’s strategy, stating the country had been positioning military assets throughout the region even before hostilities began.
“My focus is providing calm, level headed leadership in the national interest,” Starmer stated.
“That means deploying our military and diplomatic strength to protect our people, and it means having the strength to stand firm by our values and our principles, no matter the pressure to do otherwise,” he added.
The Prime Minister explained that the four additional Typhoon aircraft will reinforce the existing squadron stationed in Qatar to bolster defensive capabilities both there and across the broader region.
“We have the right plan for defence,” he declared.
