British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has rejected a request from US President Donald Trump to utilise UK military bases for preemptive strikes against Iran, citing concerns over international law.
He denied access to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the Indian Ocean territory of Diego Garcia for any such operations, reports CNN.
British government maintains that assisting in such attacks could constitute a legal breach. UK officials argue that international law makes no distinction between the state executing an attack and those providing support, provided the latter have “knowledge of the circumstances of the internationally wrongful act”.
Veterans Minister Al Carns recently clarified that the UK evaluates every request for foreign military base use based on the “legal basis and policy rationale for any proposed activity”.
In a sharp response on his Truth Social platform, President Trump withdrew his support for a pending agreement regarding the Chagos Islands. The deal would see Britain return sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while securing a 99-year lease for the base at Diego Garcia.
Trump criticised the move, stating that Starmer is “making a big mistake” and suggested the Prime Minister is “losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before. In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature”.
He emphasised the strategic necessity of the British facilities for US military objectives. “It may be necessary for the US to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime,” Trump wrote.
Military analysts note that while long-range B-2 bombers can fly missions directly from the US, a sustained campaign lasting weeks would require closer staging posts for efficient refuelling and rearming. Using these remote bases protects the US heavy bomber fleet from retaliatory Iranian missile strikes.
The situation has also highlighted a disconnect within the US administration. While the State Department recently announced that Washington “supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius”.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt countered this by stating the President’s social media post should be regarded as the official “policy” of the Trump administration.
Britain originally separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius prior to its independence, a move that led to long-standing diplomatic tension and a 2019 ruling by the International Court of Justice demanding the islands’ return.
London has since pursued the lease compromise to avoid further legal battles while ensuring continued military access to the Indian Ocean.
