By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pushed back against criticism from US President Donald Trump following London’s decision to block American forces from using UK military bases for potential strikes on Iran.
In a robust defence of his position, Starmer told reporters: “It is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest. That is what I have done, and I stand by it.”
Addressing concerns over the legality of any prospective military action, the Prime Minister added: “I will not commit our military personnel to unlawful action. That is not what they would expect or deserve. They are entitled to better than that.”
The remarks come after Trump expressed disappointment in a interview with The Telegraph published Monday, revealing that the UK had initially withheld authorisation for the use of its bases—a move the former president described as a first in the long-standing military alliance between the two nations.
“We were very disappointed in Keir,” Trump said. “That’s probably never happened between our countries before. It sounds like he was worried about the legality.”
At the heart of the dispute are key joint military facilities, including the strategically vital Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Archipelago and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire—a critical hub for the US heavy bomber fleet in Europe. According to The Express, Washington has been drafting detailed operational plans for Iran that would rely on these assets.
Under longstanding bilateral defence agreements, US forces require explicit UK government approval to launch operations from British territory. However, The Times reports that no such green light has been given, with government sources citing serious legal reservations.
British officials are said to be wary of breaching international law, which does not distinguish between a state that directly carries out a military strike and one that knowingly provides support for an action later deemed unlawful.
The decision places the UK in a cautious posture as tensions escalate over Tehran’s nuclear programme, signalling a rare moment of divergence between the two historic allies.
