Significant questions have emerged regarding whether Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer authorised the United States President and American bomber aircraft to utilise the strategic Diego Garcia base, enabling a potential 3,500-mile flight to target Iran. This controversy unfolds as senior military figures recently pressured the UK government to prioritise national security by granting Donald Trump access to British bases for operations against Iran.
Chagossian Approval and Sovereignty Complexities
Meanwhile, the Chagossian First Minister reportedly offered his "blessing" for the United States to employ the Diego Garcia facility to launch strikes against the Iranian regime. Misley Mandarin, representing Chagossian interests, asserted they "govern" and "decide what happens" on the island, while also granting Trump "permission" to use the base "in defence of peace."
The UK-US base, situated in the Indian Ocean, serves a critical function in both nations' capacity to deter adversaries and bolster transatlantic defence. In a significant move last May, the Labour government transferred sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, securing full operational control of the base through an initial 99-year lease agreement.
Unprecedented Military Deployments and Rising Tensions
A month prior to that sovereignty agreement, the United States dispatched an "unprecedented" deployment of heavy B-2 stealth bombers to the Chagos Islands as nuclear negotiations with Iran grew increasingly strained. Six of these advanced bombers flew from Missouri to the US airbase on Diego Garcia, marking what was described as the "largest single deployment in US history." This movement prompted queries about whether Trump was preparing to strike Iran from that distant location.
Donald Trump has condemned Iran's leadership, labelling their 47-year tenure a "campaign of bloodshed and mass murder," as he announced military strikes against the country. With the US and Israel executing a daylight missile attack on Iran today, Trump vowed to "raze their missile industry to the ground," raising further questions about potential use of the British overseas military base.
Political Criticism and the Special Relationship
Richard Tice, the Reform MP for Boston and Skegness, took to social media platform X, stating "the US & Israel rightly aim to protect us all in the West by destroying the dangerous Iranian regime." However, he questioned whether "Starmer & Labour cowardly refused to allow use of UK bases, including Diego Garcia?" He added, "If so, they've seriously damaged the special relationship at a critical point in history."
Last week, Downing Street declined to grant the US permission to launch air strikes from UK and overseas bases. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper informed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Britain favoured "diplomatic and economic pressure" on Iran. Trump was reportedly particularly eager to utilise Diego Garcia, along with RAF Fairford in Suffolk, to "eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime" in Tehran.
Legal Concerns and Cobra Committee Meeting
Nevertheless, Sir Keir Starmer blocked US plans due to concerns over the legality of the proposed air strikes, which the US was considering at the time. It is understood that the UK did not participate in the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, and Sir Keir is scheduled to chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee this morning.
Last week, Labour faced criticism from both the Conservative Party and former military leaders over their decision to refuse US permission for air strikes, with opponents arguing that Iran's nuclear programme "poses a grave threat to Britain and our allies."
Military Perspectives on Base Access
Rear Admiral Chris Parry, a retired Royal Navy officer, commented: ‘At a time when our US ally needs to be reassured of Britain’s staunch opposition to brutal regimes and about its access to the Chagos Islands and [UK-US military base] Diego Garcia, our Government is proving unreliable and weak.’
Former Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe stated: ‘We absolutely should let the US use UK bases in launching targeted strikes against Iran. It would be madness not to. The Americans can use Diego Garcia anyway, as it is a joint base, but we should be actively supporting.’
Logistical Challenges and Strategic Capabilities
Last April, when the US executed the "largest single deployment in US history" by flying six stealth bombers from Missouri to Diego Garcia, Trump was questioned about preparations to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. He responded: 'Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and if the talks aren't successful, I actually think it will be a very bad day for Iran if that's the case.'
Retired Brigadier General Steve Anderson noted that refuelling bombers tasked with potentially travelling 3,500 miles from Diego Garcia to the Middle East would present significant logistical challenges. US Air Force tankers were deployed across the Atlantic en route to the region at that time.
With the B-2 Bombers, the US would possess the capability to deliver vital bunker busters, such as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (GBU-57), which can penetrate up to 200 feet, placing Iran's remaining nuclear sites in jeopardy.
Recent Military Movements and Force Protection
In May 2025, the Pentagon dispatched fighter jets to the military base in the Indian Ocean to protect assets there, according to reports from the War Zone military news website. A senior officer from US Indo-Pacific Command confirmed that F-15s had been deployed to "provide force protection," without specifying the number involved.
In March, satellite imagery revealed that C-17 cargo planes and KC-135 refuelling tankers had been relocated to Chagos. By the end of that month, the US announced it had sent "several" additional A-10 Warthog aircraft to the Middle East, accompanied by 300 airmen, further intensifying military preparedness in the region.
