Britain should have backed US from the start – Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump said he was “very disappointed” with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not allowing the United States to use a British air base for strikes on Iran.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Trump said it took too long for Starmer to approve the use of the Diego Garcia air base. He said such delays had “probably never happened” between the two countries before.

At first, Britain reportedly refused to allow the U.S. to use its bases for air strikes.

However, on Sunday evening, Starmer said the bases could be used for “defensive” operations against Iranian targets.

Trump said Starmer should have approved the request immediately. He suggested the British Prime Minister may have been worried about whether the action was legal.

Diego Garcia is an important U.S.-UK military base located in the Indian Ocean. Trump said it would now be useful for launching operations.

Britain did not take part in the recent joint U.S.-Israel air strikes on Iran, which reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday.

Since the attacks began, Iran has fired missiles at Gulf countries. On Sunday, an Iranian-made drone hit Britain’s RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus. The damage was limited, and no one was injured.

Trump also criticised a recent agreement made by Starmer concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, where Diego Garcia is located.

Source: Reuters