Trump insults, abuses and disregards his allies, threatens to invade them, starts trade war against them, starts a bombing war without consultation...
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In totally unconnected news,
"UK signals it will not let US use British bases to attack Iran’s civilian infrastructure
Downing Street reiterates that Iran conflict ‘isn’t our war’
Lucy Fisher in London and Amy Kazmin in Rome
Published YESTERDAY
Updated 18:42
The UK will not permit the US to use British air bases to conduct attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran, Downing Street has signalled.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said on Tuesday that Britain’s position on approving American military strikes from UK sites within only limited parameters “hasn’t changed”, following US President Donald Trump’s threat to obliterate Iran’s bridges and power plants if the Tehran regime does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8pm Eastern time.
“The agreement in place is for the US to use UK bases for the collective self-defence of the region, including US defensive operations to degrade missile sites and capabilities used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz,” the No 10 spokesperson reiterated to reporters in Westminster"
FT.com
"UK signals it will not let US use British bases to attack Iran’s civilian infrastructure
Downing Street reiterates that Iran conflict ‘isn’t our war’
Lucy Fisher in London and Amy Kazmin in Rome
Published YESTERDAY
Updated 18:42
The UK will not permit the US to use British air bases to conduct attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran, Downing Street has signalled.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said on Tuesday that Britain’s position on approving American military strikes from UK sites within only limited parameters “hasn’t changed”, following US President Donald Trump’s threat to obliterate Iran’s bridges and power plants if the Tehran regime does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8pm Eastern time.
“The agreement in place is for the US to use UK bases for the collective self-defence of the region, including US defensive operations to degrade missile sites and capabilities used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz,” the No 10 spokesperson reiterated to reporters in Westminster"
FT.com
Putin will be pleased.
In totally unconnected news,
"Lucy Fisher in London
Published APR 2 2026
Emmanuel Macron on Thursday dismissed Donald Trump’s suggestion that western countries should use force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as “unrealistic”, as the UK hosted talks with 41 nations about how to increase diplomatic pressure on Iran to reopen the strategic waterway.
The French president said restoring shipping in the strait was only possible “in co-ordination with Iran” following a ceasefire in hostilities with the US and Israel.
A military operation to re-establish freedom of navigation “would take forever, and would expose all those who go through the strait to risks from the Revolutionary Guards but also ballistic missiles”, Macron told reporters during a trip to South Korea."
FT.com
"Lucy Fisher in London
Published APR 2 2026
Emmanuel Macron on Thursday dismissed Donald Trump’s suggestion that western countries should use force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as “unrealistic”, as the UK hosted talks with 41 nations about how to increase diplomatic pressure on Iran to reopen the strategic waterway.
The French president said restoring shipping in the strait was only possible “in co-ordination with Iran” following a ceasefire in hostilities with the US and Israel.
A military operation to re-establish freedom of navigation “would take forever, and would expose all those who go through the strait to risks from the Revolutionary Guards but also ballistic missiles”, Macron told reporters during a trip to South Korea."
FT.com
In totally unconnected news,
"Amy Kazmin in Rome, Henry Foy in Brussels and Barney Jopson in Madrid
Published MAR 31 2026
Updated MAR 31 2026, 19:50
Italy has recently denied US warplanes permission to refuel in Sicily en route to the war against Iran, as Donald Trump lashed out at France for preventing aircraft linked to the conflict from flying over its territory.
The incidents have caused concern within Nato and are the latest sign of growing tensions between Washington and its European allies over the war.
Two people familiar with the situation said several US military aircraft bound for the US-Israel campaign against Iran were denied permission in recent days to refuel at the Sigonella air base in Sicily.
Defence minister Guido Crosetto refused to let them land as US officials failed to request advance authorisation from Italy’s military leadership in time, they said."
"Hours after the Italian refusal was first reported by the Corriere della Sera newspaper, Trump lashed out at Paris for allegedly preventing planes carrying weapons bound for Israel from flying over French territory."
FT.com
"Amy Kazmin in Rome, Henry Foy in Brussels and Barney Jopson in Madrid
Published MAR 31 2026
Updated MAR 31 2026, 19:50
Italy has recently denied US warplanes permission to refuel in Sicily en route to the war against Iran, as Donald Trump lashed out at France for preventing aircraft linked to the conflict from flying over its territory.
The incidents have caused concern within Nato and are the latest sign of growing tensions between Washington and its European allies over the war.
Two people familiar with the situation said several US military aircraft bound for the US-Israel campaign against Iran were denied permission in recent days to refuel at the Sigonella air base in Sicily.
Defence minister Guido Crosetto refused to let them land as US officials failed to request advance authorisation from Italy’s military leadership in time, they said."
"Hours after the Italian refusal was first reported by the Corriere della Sera newspaper, Trump lashed out at Paris for allegedly preventing planes carrying weapons bound for Israel from flying over French territory."
FT.com
(Continued)
"Spain has been a prominent European opponent of the US-Israeli assault on Iran and has publicly refused to let the US use bases in the country for the conflict.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez banned the use of jointly operated Spanish-US bases in Rota and Morón for operations linked to the war. This week Spanish ministers confirmed that the prohibition extended to a bar on the use of Spain’s airspace by aircraft involved in attacks on Iran.
Margarita Robles, Spain’s defence minister, said on Tuesday: “We are clearly saying no to the use of the bases for a war that we consider illegitimate, and no to flight authorisations.”
She added: “This decision does not in any way represent a rupture of the transatlantic relationship.” Operations unrelated to Iran continued at the bases, Robles said.
Spanish government officials have insisted that Sánchez is not an outlier in Europe but has simply been more willing to publicly voice disagreements with Trump.
On Tuesday Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office said Rome was “acting in full compliance with existing international agreements” and that its relationship with Washington was “solid”.
It said any requests to use the base for non-routine military activities would be “carefully examined on a case-by-case basis, as has always been the case”.
Analysts said Italy’s decades-old treaties with the US required Washington to obtain specific permission from Rome to use the bases for any military activity beyond routine logistical manoeuvres and training exercises.
“If an activity is directly aimed at the air campaign in Iran, authorisation has to be requested in advance from the Italian government, which decides whether to allow it,” said Alessandro Marrone, head of the defence and security programme at Rome’s Institute of International Affairs."
"Spain has been a prominent European opponent of the US-Israeli assault on Iran and has publicly refused to let the US use bases in the country for the conflict.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez banned the use of jointly operated Spanish-US bases in Rota and Morón for operations linked to the war. This week Spanish ministers confirmed that the prohibition extended to a bar on the use of Spain’s airspace by aircraft involved in attacks on Iran.
Margarita Robles, Spain’s defence minister, said on Tuesday: “We are clearly saying no to the use of the bases for a war that we consider illegitimate, and no to flight authorisations.”
She added: “This decision does not in any way represent a rupture of the transatlantic relationship.” Operations unrelated to Iran continued at the bases, Robles said.
Spanish government officials have insisted that Sánchez is not an outlier in Europe but has simply been more willing to publicly voice disagreements with Trump.
On Tuesday Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office said Rome was “acting in full compliance with existing international agreements” and that its relationship with Washington was “solid”.
It said any requests to use the base for non-routine military activities would be “carefully examined on a case-by-case basis, as has always been the case”.
Analysts said Italy’s decades-old treaties with the US required Washington to obtain specific permission from Rome to use the bases for any military activity beyond routine logistical manoeuvres and training exercises.
“If an activity is directly aimed at the air campaign in Iran, authorisation has to be requested in advance from the Italian government, which decides whether to allow it,” said Alessandro Marrone, head of the defence and security programme at Rome’s Institute of International Affairs."
In totally unconnected news,
"Germany’s far-right AfD distances itself from Donald Trump over Iran war
Alternative for Germany party members told to scale back visits to US as strikes on Iran are deeply unpopular with voters
"Laura Pitel in Berlin
Published APR 4 2026
The far-right Alternative for Germany is distancing itself from Donald Trump as the war in Iran proves deeply unpopular and dims hopes of an economic revival in Europe’s most populous nation.
The party last week asked its MPs building ties with the president’s Maga movement to scale back visits to the US.
“Even before the war it was sub-optimal,” a senior party official told the FT. “The AfD wants to keep contact more targeted and will no longer send large groups.”
FT.com
"Germany’s far-right AfD distances itself from Donald Trump over Iran war
Alternative for Germany party members told to scale back visits to US as strikes on Iran are deeply unpopular with voters
"Laura Pitel in Berlin
Published APR 4 2026
The far-right Alternative for Germany is distancing itself from Donald Trump as the war in Iran proves deeply unpopular and dims hopes of an economic revival in Europe’s most populous nation.
The party last week asked its MPs building ties with the president’s Maga movement to scale back visits to the US.
“Even before the war it was sub-optimal,” a senior party official told the FT. “The AfD wants to keep contact more targeted and will no longer send large groups.”
FT.com
In totally unconnected news,
"Andrew England in London and Abigail Hauslohner in Washington
Published APR 1 2026
Saudi Arabia has become increasingly frustrated with the US over Donald Trump’s erratic handling of the war with Iran, including his threats to attack Iranian power plants, suggestions that the Gulf states pay for the conflict and disparaging comments about the kingdom’s leader.
Riyadh now has an “utter sense of disappointment with the White House”, according to Neil Quilliam, a Saudi Arabia expert and associate fellow at the Chatham House think-tank, after the kingdom had invested heavily in recent years to strengthen its longstanding relationship with the US.
Saudi concerns will be heightened by Trump’s suggestions that it would be up to other states to reopen the Strait of Hormuz blocked by Iran and that he might end the war without a deal."
FT.com
"Andrew England in London and Abigail Hauslohner in Washington
Published APR 1 2026
Saudi Arabia has become increasingly frustrated with the US over Donald Trump’s erratic handling of the war with Iran, including his threats to attack Iranian power plants, suggestions that the Gulf states pay for the conflict and disparaging comments about the kingdom’s leader.
Riyadh now has an “utter sense of disappointment with the White House”, according to Neil Quilliam, a Saudi Arabia expert and associate fellow at the Chatham House think-tank, after the kingdom had invested heavily in recent years to strengthen its longstanding relationship with the US.
Saudi concerns will be heightened by Trump’s suggestions that it would be up to other states to reopen the Strait of Hormuz blocked by Iran and that he might end the war without a deal."
FT.com
In totally unconnected news,
"Kate Duguid and Michelle Chan in New York and Ian Smith in London
Published MAR 31 2036
Foreign central banks have slashed their holdings of Treasuries at the New York Federal Reserve to the lowest level since 2012, as countries sell the US government bonds to prop up their economies and currencies in the wake of the Iran war.
The value of Treasuries held in custody at the New York Fed by official institutions — a group that is largely made up of central banks but also includes governments and international institutions — has dropped by $82bn since February 25 to $2.7tn, according to Fed data."
FT.com
"Kate Duguid and Michelle Chan in New York and Ian Smith in London
Published MAR 31 2036
Foreign central banks have slashed their holdings of Treasuries at the New York Federal Reserve to the lowest level since 2012, as countries sell the US government bonds to prop up their economies and currencies in the wake of the Iran war.
The value of Treasuries held in custody at the New York Fed by official institutions — a group that is largely made up of central banks but also includes governments and international institutions — has dropped by $82bn since February 25 to $2.7tn, according to Fed data."
FT.com
