Trump ‘very disappointed’ with Starmer for initially blocking use of air bases

Donald Trump ​said he was “very ‌disappointed” with British Prime ​Minister Keir ⁠Starmer for not allowing the U.S. to use the Diego ‌Garcia air base to carry out ‌strikes on Iran, ‌the ⁠Daily Telegraph quoted ⁠the U.S. President as saying in an interview.

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Britain had ​initially denied ‌the U.S. permission to conduct air strikes from its bases, but on ‌Sunday (March 1, 2026) evening, Mr. Starmer ​said he was accepting a request for ⁠their use in any “defensive strikes” the U.S. wanted ‌to make against Iranian targets.

Mr. Trump told the British newspaper on Monday (March 2, 2026) that it took “too long” for ‌Mr. Starmer to change his ​mind.

“That’s probably never happened between our countries before,” ⁠he told The Telegraph, ⁠adding: “It sounds like he was worried ‌about the legality.”