US President Trump stated that UK Prime Minister Starmer had previously blocked the US from using the military base on the Chagos Archipelago to strike Iran, expressing that he was “very disappointed” about this.
According to Xinhua News, the UK had previously refused the US use of the base against Iran, citing international law. On the evening of the 1st, Starmer made a statement saying he has agreed to allow US use of the military base for “specific and limited” defensive purposes.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Trump said that Starmer’s shift in attitude “took too long,” something that has “never happened before” between the two countries, and that Starmer should have allowed the US to use the base from the beginning.
The Chagos Archipelago is located in the southwestern Indian Ocean, about 750 kilometers northeast of Mauritius, and was ceded to the British colonial authorities in 1965. The following year, the UK leased the main island, Diego Garcia, to the US for an air force base.
On May 22, 2025, the UK and Mauritius signed an agreement, officially transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius. Under the agreement, the Diego Garcia military base will be leased to the UK and the US by Mauritius. Trump has repeatedly opposed the UK’s transfer of sovereignty over the archipelago.
● Starmer: Will Not Participate in US-Israel Offensive Strikes on Iran
On the afternoon of the 2nd local time, Starmer told the UK Parliament that Britain will not participate in US and Israeli offensive strikes on Iran and does not believe in “regime change from the air.”
Starmer said that making such decisions requires ensuring that Britain’s actions have a legitimate basis. He also stated that although US President Trump is dissatisfied with the UK not joining in strikes against Iran, Britain must consider its own national interests.