Donald Trump has said he is “very disappointed” in Keir Starmer after the UK initially refused to allow the United States to use British military bases to launch strikes on Iran.
The White House had sought permission to deploy assets from the UK-US base on Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Islands, during Saturday’s attacks on Iran. However, the British government declined the request.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Trump said such a refusal had “never happened between our countries before”.
He added that it “sounds like” Starmer was “worried about the legality” of using the base.
Trump Criticises UK Decision On Diego Garcia Base
The prime minister later confirmed that Britain had permitted the US to use UK bases for “defensive” operations targeting storage depots and missile launch sites in Iran.
However, Starmer stressed that the UK would not participate in the offensive aspects of the conflict. In a video statement, he indicated the approach was designed to ensure Britain remained compliant with international law.
Trump, who has recently reversed his earlier support for the UK’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, described Britain’s proposal as a “very woke thing”.
“It would have been much better on the legal front if he just kept the ownership of the land and not given it to people that weren’t the rightful owners,” the president claimed.
While Labour intends to hand the archipelago to Mauritius, the government has proposed paying £99 billion over 99 years to lease back the Diego Garcia base so it can continue operating.
Chagos Islands Deal Adds Strain To UK-US Relations
Trump’s criticism of the proposed deal last week prompted minister Hamish Falconer to confirm the government had “paused” the plan while further discussions take place with Washington.
The president said: “All of a sudden [Mauritius] was claiming ownership. He should have fought it out and owned it or make him take it, if you want to know the truth. But no, we were very disappointed in Keir.”
Trump also argued Britain should have approved US use of Diego Garcia from the outset, claiming Iran is responsible for killing “a lot of people from your country”.
Downing Street And Opposition Respond To Donald Trump Remarks
A Downing Street spokesperson said the UK had deliberately chosen not to participate in offensive strikes because it wants to see a settlement in the Middle East.
They added the UK “responded accordingly” after Iran targeted British interests and put UK citizens in the region at risk.
The Conservatives’ shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said Trump’s response was “no surprise”.
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She said: “The Labour government’s response to the crisis in Iran has been shameful. We should have been supporting our allies, not making it harder for them. Even now Starmer is still trying to sit on the fence, which is a complete failure of leadership.
“This is another reminder that Starmer’s Chagos surrender is not in our national interest. When I was in Washington last week, everyone I spoke to was critical of the deal. It is undermining the Special Relationship and should be scrapped.”
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