UK Declines US Request to Utilize Air Bases for Potential Iran Strikes
The United Kingdom's Prime Minister has rejected a request from the President of the United States to allow the American military to use British air bases in case of any future attacks on Iran. The Prime Minister stated that such permission could potentially breach international law.
The Prime Minister has specifically denied access to RAF Fairford in England and Diego Garcia, a British overseas territory in the Indian Ocean. These bases have been used by the US military in the past for operations that were carried out a significant distance from the US. In particular, Diego Garcia has been essential as an airfield for the American heavy bomber fleet.
Legal Implications of Granting Access
There are concerns in the UK that giving the US permission to use these bases could violate international law. The law does not distinguish between a country that carries out an attack and those that support it, if the latter knew about the internationally wrongful act.
No Comment from the UK's Ministry of Defence
The UK Ministry of Defence has declined to provide a comment on these operational matters. They have reiterated their support for the political process currently unfolding between the US and Iran. The UK's main priority is to ensure regional security and to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Historical Precedence of Base Use
Historically, US requests to use UK bases for operational purposes have been considered on a case-by-case basis. The exact criteria for considering these requests have been kept confidential for security reasons.
Recent Diplomatic Conversations
The Prime Minister and the US President had a phone call recently where they discussed peace in the Middle East and Europe. The day after this call, the American President withdrew his support for a deal that would have given sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, located in the Indian Ocean, to Mauritius in exchange for a 99-year lease on the military base.
Controversy Surrounding the Chagos Islands
The UK had separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius before the latter gained independence. This move has been a source of diplomatic tension and has led to several legal disputes with the local population who were forced to leave. In 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled that the UK should return the islands as quickly as possible so they could be decolonized.
The US's Position on the Chagos Islands
A deal to return the islands has been in the works within the British government. London believes that a lease agreement would prevent further costly and likely pointless legal battles, while still allowing military access in the Indian Ocean. The US President initially opposed the UK-Mauritius deal but then said it was the best deal the UK could get under the circumstances. However, as the US has been increasing its forces in the region for a possible attack on Iran, the President changed his stance, stating that the Prime Minister is making a big mistake in agreeing to the lease deal with Mauritius.
US's Potential Use of UK Air Bases
The US President mentioned in a social media post that it might be necessary for the US to use Diego Garcia and the airfield in Fairford to prevent a potential attack by an unstable and dangerous regime. However, neither of these bases was used in the one-time B-2 bomber strike on Iranian nuclear sites last June. In that instance, the stealth bombers flew a round trip of about 37 hours from their home base in Missouri.
Potential Future Conflicts
Analysts predict that any new US attack on Iran might be a much longer campaign, potentially lasting several weeks or more. In such a scenario, having the B-2s, as well as B-1 and B-52 bombers, using bases that are thousands of miles closer to Iran would enable quicker turnarounds to rearm and refuel for more strikes. However, while the US may have access to other bases in countries closer to Iran, using them could put its valuable heavy bomber fleet within reach of retaliatory Iranian missile strikes.