Defense sources claim the United Kingdom canceled plans to send the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales to a major naval parade celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary in a retaliatory move following remarks made by former President Donald Trump. The parade took place in the port of New York and New Jersey.
According to these sources, the Royal Navy had initially offered the carrier's participation last year, and the U.S. Navy had announced in January that a British aircraft carrier would be part of the event. However, plans were reportedly scrapped in direct response to Trump's March comments, in which he referred to British carriers as "toys" compared to U.S. naval assets.
Sailors aboard the HMS Prince of Wales were reportedly disappointed by the cancellation, having anticipated the visit to New York. One crew member's mother stated her son expressed devastation at the potential cancellation, noting that he and his colleagues were looking forward to visiting America and participating in the independence celebrations.
However, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has denied that Trump's comments were the reason for the change. An MoD spokesperson stated that the HMS Prince of Wales is currently engaged in NATO operations in the High North, deterring Russian aggression. This operational commitment, the spokesperson explained, prevents the carrier from conducting port visits in North America during its Operation Firecrest deployment.
The MoD added that the UK armed forces are supporting various celebratory events across the U.S. this summer, including a Red Arrows fly-past over New York on July 4. Trump's earlier remarks, made in the context of discussions about Iran, were sharply criticized by former Defence Minister Al Carns, who defended the capabilities of British carriers.