Finance
UK Approves US Use of British Bases to Strike Iran Missile Sites Targeting Ships
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 20, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 20, 2026
Quick Summary
The UK has authorised US use of British bases for limited, defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The move aims to degrade Iranian capabilities threatening regional shipping lanes.
UK approves US use of British bases to strike Iran missile sites targeting ships
British Government Authorises US Military Action from UK Bases
LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - The British government gave authorisation on Friday for the United States to use military bases in Britain to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites that are attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Background of the Decision
British ministers met on Friday to discuss the war with Iran and Iran's blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Downing Street statement.
Details of the UK-US Agreement
"They confirmed that the agreement for the U.S. to use UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region includes U.S. defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz," the statement said.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Position
Initial Reluctance and Legal Considerations
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said this week Britain would not be drawn into a war over Iran. He initially rejected a U.S. request to use British bases for the strikes on Iran, saying he needed to be satisfied that any military action was legal.
Change in Stance Following Iranian Strikes
But Starmer modified his stance after Iran conducted strikes on British allies across the Middle East, saying that the United States could use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia, a joint U.S.-UK base in the Indian Ocean.
International and Domestic Reactions
US President Donald Trump's Response
Criticism of UK Support
President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked Starmer since the conflict started, complaining he was not doing enough to help him.
Statements on Allied Support
On Monday, Trump said there were "some countries that greatly disappointed me" before he singled out Britain, which he said had once been considered "the Rolls-Royce of allies".
Calls for De-escalation
The Downing Street statement on Friday called for "urgent de-escalation and a swift resolution to the war".
Public Opinion in Britain
Opinion polls in Britain suggest widespread scepticism about the war, with 59% of those surveyed by YouGov saying that they were opposed to the U.S.-Israeli attacks.
(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Alison Williams)
Key Takeaways
- •UK permits use of bases like Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford for US defensive operations against Iranian missile sites (lemonde.fr)
- •Prime Minister Starmer emphasises the UK is not joining offensive strikes but enabling collective self‑defence to protect British lives and regional allies (apnews.com)
- •The decision follows escalating missile and drone threats, including recent successful US strikes on Iranian anti‑ship missile storage near the Strait (lemonde.fr)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about UK approves US use of British bases to strike Iran missile sites targeting ships
1Why did the UK approve US use of British bases?
The UK authorized the US to use British bases to conduct strikes on Iranian missile sites attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
2What is the purpose of the US strikes from British bases?
The strikes aim to degrade Iran's missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
3Who made the decision to allow US use of UK bases?
British ministers met and collectively confirmed the agreement for US forces to use UK bases for defensive operations.
4What triggered the UK-US agreement on military cooperation?
The decision was made in response to Iran's war activity and blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, threatening ships in the region.
5Which region is affected by the UK and US military cooperation?
The military cooperation specifically targets Iran's activities in the Strait of Hormuz affecting international shipping.
