Britain will refuse to allow Trump to use its bases for attacks on Iranian targets
The British government has officially blocked the use of its strategic military facilities by U.S. forces to launch attacks on Iranian territory.
This decision has caused a serious cooling of relations between Downing Street and the White House, highlighting differences in approaches to security in the Middle East.
According to The I Paper, U.S. President Donald Trump had counted on the support of a key ally as part of his strategy to pressure Tehran.
The U.S. side was considering the possibility of using British facilities, specifically the base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, as well as RAF Fairford.
However, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government issued a sharp refusal to grant access to these facilities.
The main reasons cited for this position are legal concerns and the British cabinet’s reluctance to become embroiled in a large-scale armed conflict without proper international mandates.
British lawyers point out that participation in such operations without a clear legal basis could violate international law.
London seeks to avoid a situation in which British territories become a staging ground for actions that lack support from the UN or other legitimate institutions.
Beyond legal considerations, the British government seeks to avoid direct involvement in a potential escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
Against the backdrop of this refusal, tensions arose between the allies, which quickly spilled into the public sphere due to criticism from Washington.
As a reminder, Starmer will no longer be able to restore relations with Trump.
The Pentagon also reported military casualties during the five-week campaign against Iran. During this period, 13 American service members were killed, and more than 360 were wounded.
