UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently addressed the situation regarding Iran in light of America’s military actions. Following President Trump’s recent attacks, Starmer had a conversation with the American leader, though the urgency of a decisive agreement was absent.
Despite being informed ahead of time about Washington’s plans, the UK government did not participate in the decision-making process and was not consulted regarding involvement, such as granting permission for US aircraft to operate from the UK base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
Starmer has consistently advocated for de-escalation, emphasizing this position publicly. Internally, the British government has also raised concerns about the legality of potential military involvement. Consequently, agreeing to assist the White House could have posed considerable challenges for Starmer, while refusing support would have strained the carefully cultivated relationship with Trump.
As Washington opted to act unilaterally, deploying its aircraft directly from the US, it eliminated the immediate need for a significant decision from Starmer. However, the possibility of Iran’s retaliation means that the implications of this situation and the potential for future trade-offs could soon resurface.