Starmer Rejects Trump’s Call to Launch Iran Strikes from UK Soil

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reportedly rejected a request from US President Donald Trump to use Royal Air Force (RAF) bases for military strikes against Iran.

According to reports from The Times and The Telegraph on Friday, February 20, 2026, the refusal has sparked a significant diplomatic row. In apparent retaliation, President Trump has withdrawn his support for the recent agreement between Starmer and the government of Mauritius regarding the transfer of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.

Strategic Bases and Legal Concerns

The US has been ramping up military preparations in the Middle East, deploying long-range bombers and tankers amid escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and Tehran’s refusal to sign a uranium enrichment halt. Defense officials suggest the US military could be "battle-ready" by Saturday, marking the largest regional build-up since the 2003 Iraq War.

A primary point of contention involves RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. While the US can operate from its base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands without specific British permission, any long-range bombing missions launched directly from mainland UK airbases like Fairford requires formal government approval.

International Law and Sovereign Fallout

Starmer’s government has cited significant legal concerns as the primary reason for the refusal. Government lawyers have cautioned that participating in preemptive strikes could constitute a breach of international law. A government source noted that Britain is unlikely to support any military action that is not deemed a direct defensive necessity.

President Trump took to his Truth Social platform to criticize the decision, urging Britain to stay "strong" against what he termed "over-wokeism" and insisting that the US may find it necessary to use both Diego Garcia and Fairford to "eliminate a potential attack from a very dangerous, unstable regime."

The fallout has now directly impacted the Chagos Islands deal. Trump’s withdrawal of support for the treaty signals a potentially rocky future for the UK-US "Special Relationship" as Washington pursues a more aggressive stance toward Tehran.