Donald Trump has hit out at Keir Starmer for not immediately falling behind US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The US President said he was “very disappointed” the PM had initially blocked the US from using British military bases to target Iran. He went on to say the Prime Minister took far too long to change his mind.
On Sunday evening Mr Starmer said it “remains the case” that the UK is not involved with the strikes on Iran. But he announced Britain will allow the US to use British bases for operations against Iranian missile capabilities – a “specific and limited defensive purpose”.
The UK has granted permission for the US to use Diego Garcia, the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, and RAF Fairford, in in Gloucestershire.
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AP)
In an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Trump accused the PM of taking “far too long”. He said: “That’s probably never happened between our countries before. It sounds like he was worried about the legality.”
He said: “We have British jets in the air as part of coordinated defensive operations. Which have already successfully intercepted Iranian strikes. But the only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source. In their storage depots or the launchers which are used to fire the missiles.
“The US has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose. We have taken the decision to accept this request. To prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk and hitting countries that have not been involved.
“The basis of our decision is the collective self-defence of longstanding friends and allies, and protecting British lives.”