Starmer reversed his previous decision to deny US request for UK bases
Permission granted for defensive strikes against Iranian missile capabilities
Decision came after phone call with Trump and amid concerns for British lives
Political controversy with calls for parliamentary vote and accusations of U-turn
Government published legal advice to preempt challenges about international law
📖 Full Retelling
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Sunday, March 2, 2026, that the United States can use British military bases including Fairford in Gloucestershire and the controversial Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands for potential strikes against Iran, reversing his previous decision to deny such permission and citing the need to protect British lives in the Middle East from Iranian attacks. The announcement came after a phone conversation between Starmer and US President Donald Trump on Saturday, with the prime minister clarifying that the bases would be used specifically for defensive purposes to destroy Iran's missile depots and rocket launchers rather than for bombing Iranian territory. Starmer emphasized that the decision was based on 'collective self-defence of longstanding friends and allies and protecting British lives,' noting that Iran had recently attacked airports, hotels, and military bases where British citizens or personnel were present. The prime minister revealed there are at least 200,000 British citizens in the region and mentioned that Iran had narrowly missed British personnel during an attack on a military base in Bahrain. In his television address, Starmer acknowledged the lessons learned from past conflicts, particularly Iraq, stating 'We all remember the mistakes of Iraq. And we have learned those lessons.'
🏷️ Themes
UK-US Relations, Middle East Conflict, Political Reversals, National Security
Diego Garcia is the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago. It has been used as a joint UK–U.S. military base since the 1970s, following the expulsion of the Chagossians by the UK government. The Chagos Islands are a British overseas territory, though a treaty to transfer sovereignty from the UK t...
President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
Born into a wealthy New York City family, Trump graduated from the...
# Sir Keir Starmer
**Sir Keir Rodney Starmer** (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since July 2024. A member of the Labour Party, he has served as Leader of the Labour Party since 2020 and has been the Member of Parliament (MP) ...
Analysis Analysis Starmer denies U-turn claims after giving go-ahead for US to use UK military for strikes on Iran Sir Keir Starmer previously turned down a US request to use British bases for its campaign against Iran. But on Sunday, the PM said the nature of the request, and therefore the answer, had changed. Jon Craig Chief political correspondent @joncraig Monday 2 March 2026 03:55, UK 2:14 Share UK gives US permission to use UK bases Why you can trust Sky News Critics will accuse him of yet another U-turn, but Sir Keir Starmer insists circumstances have changed and British lives are now at risk from attacks by Iran. The prime minister's announcement that two British airbases - Fairford in Gloucestershire and the hotly disputed Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands - can be used by the US came at 9pm on Sunday. If not a U-turn, it was certainly a change from his original decision to reject Donald Trump's earlier request to use the bases, a snub that will have massively irked the US president. Who knows? The PM's change of heart, which came after a phone call with The Donald on Saturday, may even persuade him to drop his opposition to the controversial Chagos deal. Well, he can but hope. After the Number 10 announcement, government sources were quick to point out that the bases will not be used for bombing Iran, but to stop the Iranians attacking Brits and others throughout the Middle East. "It's very clearly not a U-turn," a close ally of the PM told Sky News. "This is a different question that has been asked. It's about stopping missiles being fired at British citizens." More on Iran The horror story at Beit Shemesh where an Iranian missile evaded Israel's formidable defences Trump's war with Iran has become personal for people in Dubai Ayatollah Khamenei killed: What next for The Middle East? Q&A with Richard Engel Related Topics: Iran Sir Keir Starmer 1:21 Share What happens next in Iran and Middle East? But the government is already facing calls for a Commons v...
