Lead: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has refused a US request to permit use of RAF Fairford and the Diego Garcia base for any US preemptive strikes on Iran, multiple UK outlets reported on 20 February 2026. The decision, according to those reports citing government sources, rests on concerns that facilitating such operations could amount to participation in an internationally wrongful act. The split emerged amid high diplomatic activity between London and Washington as US officials surge forces to the region.
Key Takeaways
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer denied US requests to use RAF Fairford (England) and Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory) for strikes on Iran, UK newspapers reported on 20 February 2026.
- The Times first reported the split; BBC, The Guardian and The Telegraph subsequently published corroborating accounts citing government sources.
- UK officials raised legal concerns that providing basing could expose the UK to liability under international law if the US carried out strikes.
- Diego Garcia is a strategic forward airfield used by the US for heavy bombers; Fairford is the principal forward operating base for US strategic bombers in Europe.
- US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that Diego Garcia and Fairford may be needed; the White House and State Department responses have shown inconsistency on policy messaging.
- Last June’s B-2 strike on Iranian targets involved a ~37-hour round trip from Missouri and did not use either base, but analysts warn a larger campaign could require closer staging areas.
- The UK Ministry of Defence declined to comment on operational matters, framing the issue as part of a broader political process between the US and Iran.
Background
The question of allied basing for US operations has long been handled on a case-by-case basis under longstanding UK–US agreements. Historically, requests are assessed against legal, operational and policy criteria, and ministers have discretion to deny access if approval would conflict with UK obligations. Veterans Minister Al Carns has previously explained that such decisions consider the “legal basis and policy rationale” of proposed activity.
Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford are two well-established nodes in the US global basing network. Diego Garcia serves as a deep-water anchorage and air logistics hub for long-range strikes in the Indian Ocean and beyond, while Fairford has hosted US strategic bomber rotations and exercises in Europe. Both locations therefore carry operational significance when planning long-duration air campaigns, particularly for the B-2, B-1 and B-52 bomber fleets.
Main Event
Multiple British media outlets reported that Mr. Starmer turned down a White House request to allow US forces to use the two bases if Washington launched preemptive strikes on Iran. The Times was first to publish the split; other national outlets — the BBC, The Guardian and The Telegraph — later ran corroborating stories citing UK government sources. The UK Ministry of Defence declined to comment on operational details, saying only that there is a “political process ongoing between the US and Iran,” and reiterating that preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon remains a UK priority.
On Tuesday evening Starmer and US President Donald Trump spoke by phone; official readouts said they discussed peace in the Middle East and Europe. The day after the call, Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social criticizing a separate UK move to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius under a lease arrangement, while simultaneously asserting the potential necessity of Diego Garcia and Fairford for operations against Iran.
British officials reportedly cited a legal analysis warning that permitting basing for an attack could be construed as providing support to an internationally wrongful act if the UK had knowledge of the circumstances. That distinction underpins the reported refusal. US officials have not publicly confirmed the request; CNN and other outlets have sought comment from the White House and the UK government.
Analysis & Implications
The reported UK refusal highlights a tension between strategic alliance obligations and legal/political constraints at home. Allowing basing for strikes could entangle the UK in the legal and reputational fallout of any kinetic campaign, especially if civilian harm or breaches of international humanitarian law occur. For a UK government mindful of parliamentary scrutiny and legal advice, that risk appears to have weighed heavily in the decision.
Operationally, denying access to Diego Garcia and Fairford complicates US planning for a sustained air campaign. The B-2, B-1 and B-52 fleets gain sortie-rate and logistics advantages from forward basing; without closer staging areas, the US may need longer round trips, more tanker support, or to rely on other regional partners. Each alternative brings trade-offs in terms of aircraft exposure, host-nation permissions and political costs.
Diplomatically, the dispute exposes fissures in allied messaging. The State Department had publicly signaled support for the UK–Mauritius agreement on Chagos sovereignty, while the US president’s social posts took a different tone. Mixed messages from Washington could hamper coordination even if the UK remains willing to support other aspects of US regional strategy short of direct basing support.
Comparison & Data
| Base | Location | Primary role | Operational advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diego Garcia | British Indian Ocean Territory | Forward staging for long-range bombers/logistics | Closer to Middle East than US home bases; supports sustained sorties |
| RAF Fairford | Gloucestershire, England | Forward operating base for US strategic bombers in Europe | Reduces transit time from US home bases; useful for sortie tempo |
| Whiteman AFB (Missouri) | United States | Home base for B-2 fleet (example) | Longer round-trip sorties (June strike ≈37 hours) |
Context: In June (previous year) a one-off B-2 strike on Iranian nuclear sites involved an estimated ~37-hour round trip from the aircrafts’ US home base in Missouri and did not use Diego Garcia or Fairford. Analysts caution that a multi-week campaign would place a premium on forward basing to sustain high sortie rates and reduce aircrew fatigue and tanker requirements.
Reactions & Quotes
“There is a political process ongoing between the US and Iran, which the UK supports. Iran must never be able to develop a nuclear weapon, and our priority is security in the region.”
UK government spokesperson (official statement)
“All decisions on whether to approve foreign nations’ use of military bases in the UK for operational purposes considers the legal basis and policy rationale for any proposed activity.”
Veterans Minister Al Carns (parliamentary reply)
“It may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime.”
Donald J. Trump (Truth Social post)
Unconfirmed
- Reports rest on unnamed UK government sources; there is no official UK ministry confirmation that names both bases as formally denied for future operations.
- It remains unconfirmed whether the White House made a formal written request or raised the matter only in high-level diplomacy.
- Assertions about the precise legal advice cited by UK ministers have not been published and therefore cannot be independently verified at this time.
Bottom Line
The reported refusal to permit US use of Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford reflects a deliberate UK choice to prioritize legal and political risk management over immediate operational convenience for an ally. The decision, if confirmed officially, signals that London will scrutinize any request that might be seen as direct participation in strikes that could breach international law.
For the US, the constraint narrows options for rapid, sustained air operations near Iran and increases reliance on longer-range sorties or alternative partners — each with military and political trade-offs. For the region and allied diplomacy, the episode underscores the fragility of unified messaging when operational needs collide with legal and domestic political limits.
Sources
- CNN — International news outlet reporting on UK/US developments (original reporting).
- The Times — UK national newspaper (reported the initial split; media source).
- BBC — UK public broadcaster (corroborating reports; media source).
- The Guardian — UK national newspaper (corroborating reports; media source).
- The Telegraph — UK national newspaper (corroborating reports; media source).
- UK Ministry of Defence — Official government source (MOD statements and operational policy context).
- International Court of Justice — 2019 advisory opinion on Chagos Islands (international judicial opinion).