Prime Minister Starmer faces domestic backlash and criticism from Trump over limited use of British bases in Iranian conflict

PM Keir Starmer authorizes limited "defensive" use of UK bases by the US, triggering criticism from Donald Trump and warnings of an "illegal war" at home.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 7:22 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from AA

The shift from absolute refusal to limited access

Initially, Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined to permit the United States to utilize British bases for the first wave of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, famously asserting that the U.K. does not support "regime change from the skies." However, following a series of Iranian retaliatory missile and drone attacks that affected British assets in the region, Starmer approved narrowly defined access for "defensive operations." This shift attempts to balance the U.K.'s historical alliance with Washington against a firm commitment to international law and a public wary of deep Middle Eastern entanglements.

Diplomatic friction and the "Churchill" comparison

The Prime Minister's cautious approach has led to a public rift with U.S. President Donald Trump. On Tuesday, Trump criticized the U.K. for being "very, very uncooperative" and disparaged Starmer’s leadership by stating he is "not Winston Churchill." Despite this rhetoric, Starmer defended his position in the House of Commons, insisting that any British involvement must have a "lawful basis" and a "viable thought-through plan." He repeatedly cited the lessons of the 2003 Iraq War as a primary reason for his hesitation to join an all-out offensive campaign.

Operational constraints on U.S. forces

According to security analysts from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), the restrictions placed on the U.S. are as significant as the permission itself. U.S. forces currently: