Britain has refused to allow Donald Trump to use its military bases to launch a strike against Iran, a move that led him to withdraw his support for the Chagos Islands deal with Mauritius. The British government affirmed that the agreement is necessary for security and legal reasons.
According to the newspaper, this dispute is behind Trump’s decision to pull his backing for the Chagos deal, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer had been pursuing to transfer the islands to Mauritius.
The Times reported that Trump withdrew his support for Starmer’s plan because the United Kingdom did not agree to allow the use of British bases in any potential attack on Iran.
The newspaper added that the White House is drawing up detailed military plans for a strike on Iran, which include using both the Diego Garcia base and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, home to the U.S. bomber fleet.
The government confirmed that the agreement with Mauritius—expected to cost taxpayers £35 billion—is necessary for security reasons and to avoid an expensive legal battle over sovereignty of the islands.
Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones said the government will continue working with allies, including the United States, but emphasized that national security remains the top priority. She noted that the agreement will be presented to Parliament again as soon as possible.