"Donald Trump has begged NATO allies to bail the US out of the Middle East mess he has found himself in after Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices spiking"

Take note Donald Trump - if you spit in the face of your allies, don't be surprised if we don't rush to bail you out of your Iran war mess.

"A week is a long time in politics." Just 10 days ago the US President rubbished Keir Starmer for considering sending aircraft carriers to the Middle East. "That's OK Prime Minister Starmer, we don't need them any longer - but we will remember," he said on Truth Social. "We don't need people that join wars after we've already won."

Oh how the tables have turned, Donny. After Trump hastily followed Israel into an admittedly impressive initial air strike campaign, the stunning lack of preparation was laid bare.

Despite decapitating Iran's leadership and overwhelming the country's defences, Trump and his acolytes did not seem to consider the Iranians could close the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. Quite an oversight.

With oil surging past $100 (£75) a barrel - and risking rising past $150 (£112) if the situation persists - Donald has come crawling back, urging the UK and others to keep the strait open. It is important the UK and others do not bend the knee to Washington DC.

Why? You might ask. Don't worry, I've brought receipts.

Memories are short these days, but I can remember just a few months ago when Trump threatened to destroy NATO by annexing Greenland - a territory of one of its most steadfast allies, Denmark. While Trump's deranged imperialist land grab was bad enough, the cracks in our special relationship were forming when the US President decided to slap crippling tariffs on the UK and its allies.

And it goes without mentioning when Trump's administration had the gall in sending JD Vance over to Europe to lecture us about freedom of speech only for ICE agents to fatally shoot two American citizens demonstrating in the streets of Minneapolis. Oh yes, Donny. We remember.

Starmer might be embattled with his approval rating plummeting in the polls, but he is certainly right about keeping the UK from getting involved in Trump's Middle East amateur hour. Trump has not ruled out sending ground troops to the Middle East, a far cry from his America First vow of keeping the US out of needless wars in the region.

We have been here before. At least George W. Bush made his case - as catastrophically miscalculated as it was - before rushing into Iraq with the UK in lock step behind our American allies. Trump has done no such thing, in fact we were left blindsided.

War goals have shifted from regime change to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and all without a clear timeframe for when and how this growing mess will end. And even if Starmer sends our navy to bail Trump out of his Hormuz hodgepodge, what's to say the US President will even be grateful that we rushed to his aid?

In January, Trump said NATO troops "stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines" in Afghanistan. Tell that to the families and friends of the 457 UK armed forces personnel who died in the country supporting the US.

Enough is enough. Starmer tried to tame the egotistical beast with an unprecedented second state visit in September last year, for what little it has done for him. Now is the time to change tack.

A bully only recognises strength, and it is clear we must build up our military capability that has been neglected and diminished over successive governments. The global stability we all once enjoyed is fraying at the seams and we cannot be caught off guard should the fires of further conflict ignite around the world.

Starmer has tough choices to make, but appears to not be one of them. Beyond intercepting rogue missile attacks on our military bases in the Mediterranean, he would be wise to steer well clear of getting involved in the Middle East. Iranians deserve to be free of Tehran's tyrannical regime but without a clear plan in our interest, the UK must not get bogged down in a protracted war.

And to Trump, if you are reading. You can insult your allies, but we remember all your slights.

Actions have consequences.