PM Starmer defends refusal to join initial US strikes after Trump criticism

LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday defended his government’s decision not to participate in the initial joint US-Israeli air strikes on Iran, after US President Donald Trump publicly criticised the move.

Speaking to reporters, Starmer said he stood by his judgment, stressing that his foremost responsibility was to act in Britain’s national interest.

“President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes,” Starmer said, after Trump accused him of taking “too long” to authorise the use of British air bases.

“But it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest. That is what I’ve done, and I stand by it,” he added.

Trump says UK delayed decision

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Trump said Britain took “far too long” to allow the United States to use its air bases for operations against Iran.

He expressed disappointment over Starmer’s handling of the strategically vital Diego Garcia base.

Britain initially declined to allow Washington to use jointly operated facilities for the first wave of air strikes against Iran. However, on Sunday evening, Starmer said he had accepted a US request to use the bases for what he described as “defensive” strikes against Iranian targets.

Trump suggested Starmer appeared to be “worried about the legality” of the operation.

“That’s probably never happened between our countries before,” Trump said of the disagreement, adding that the British leader’s change of stance took “far too much time”.

He argued that Starmer should have approved the American use of Diego Garcia from the outset, describing the base as strategically crucial. Trump also claimed Iran was responsible for killing “a lot of people from your country”.

Regional escalation

The row comes amid sharp escalation in the Middle East after US and Israeli strikes on Iran on Saturday reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran has since launched missile attacks targeting Gulf states that host US military installations.

On Sunday, an Iranian-made drone struck Britain’s RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus, causing limited damage but no casualties, according to British officials.

Trump said it was “useful” that the US would now be able to conduct operations from Diego Garcia, but he also criticised Starmer over a separate agreement concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, where the base is located.

Chagos deal under scrutiny

Britain has defended its agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius while securing the long-term future of the joint US-UK base. London argues the deal protects the facility from future legal challenges.

However, Trump reportedly turned critical of the arrangement, with some reports suggesting his shift in tone was linked to Britain’s earlier refusal to allow the base to be used in offensive strikes against Iran.

Despite the public disagreement, Starmer’s spokesperson insisted bilateral ties remained strong.

“The UK and US are staunch allies, as we have been for many decades,” the spokesperson said, adding that the government’s position evolved as “Iran is striking British interests and putting British people at huge risk, along with our allies across the region.”

The diplomatic friction underscores the strain among Western allies as the conflict widens, with military operations intensifying and regional security hanging in the balance.