New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has agreed to continue allowing the US to use British military bases for what Washington and London describe as “defensive" operations against Iran, Bloomberg reported this week.
The decision keeps in place the policy followed by former prime minister Keir Starmer, under which US aircraft can operate from British facilities, including Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, for missions linked to countering Iranian missile threats and protecting shipping routes around the Strait of Hormuz, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg.
The move is expected to face criticism from opposition groups and some members of the British left, who have argued that allowing the use of UK bases could make Britain complicit in US military actions.
Burnham’s stance comes after his first phone call with US President Donald Trump, during which the new prime minister highlighted Britain’s commitment to defense and security cooperation with the US and its allies.
Key ministers in Burnham's cabinetAndy Burnham’s first Cabinet as Britain’s new prime minister has signaled that he intends to chart a different course from his predecessor. A list of lawmakers who have been given top jobs in Burnham's cabinet so far: • John Healey | Finance Minister • Wes Streeting | Defense Minister • Miatta Fahnbulleh | Energy Minister • Ed Miliband | Foreign Minister • Shabana Mahmood | Interior Minister • Yvette Cooper | Health Minister • Jonathan Reynolds | Business Minister • Angela Rayner | Housing Minister |
