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Mr. Sparkle

(3,703 posts) Thu Feb 19, 2026, 11:25 AM Feb 19

UK blocking Trump from using RAF bases for strikes on Iran

Source: The Times

President Trump has withdrawn his support for Sir Keir Starmer’s deal to hand the Chagos Islands over to Mauritius because the UK has not agreed to allow the use of British bases to attack Iran, The Times understands.

The White House is drawing up detailed military plans for a strike against Iran involving the use of both Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which is home to America’s fleet of heavy bombers in Europe. Under the terms of long-standing agreements with Washington, these bases can only be used for military operations that have been agreed in advance with the government.

The Times understands that the UK is yet to give permission for the US to use the bases in the event that Trump orders a strike on Iran, owing to concerns that it would be a breach of international law which makes no distinction between a state carrying out the attack and those in support if the latter have “knowledge of the circumstances of the internationally wrongful act”.

The president spoke to the prime minister on Tuesday night, and the two men discussed Trump’s ultimatum to Iran over its nuclear programme. The following day, Trump made his statement attacking the Chagos deal.

Read more: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/trump-chagos-islands-deal-iran-attack-british-bases-kcj0gzbr8

20 replies

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Highlight:

UK blocking Trump from using RAF bases for strikes on Iran (Original Post) Mr. Sparkle Feb 19 OP

Good! Chasstev365 Feb 19 #1

When does Mr Bored of Peace throw a tantrum? C_U_L8R Feb 19 #2

Ah, that explains why his bullshit on Truth Social mentioned RAF Fairford, despite that being a long way muriel_volestrangler Feb 19 #3

Trump needs to be impeached, but I guess they're gonna wait until the Market crashes..and it's coming Joinfortmill Feb 19 #4

The markets aren't going to crash. Mosby Feb 19 #5

I hope you're right. As for me I've tried to protect my investments as much as I can. Joinfortmill Feb 19 #18

Perhaps, but...... SergeStorms Feb 19 #20

Could be. Market will crash, why give TSF a gift by impeaching right before it crashes? nt Exp Feb 19 #10

Good for Starmer. Well... ananda Feb 19 #6

Good to hear. electric_blue68 Feb 19 #7

Can't wait for the angry tweet and 10,000% tariffs. Initech Feb 19 #8

What's keeping tRump from ignoring those agreements/treaties? groundloop Feb 19 #9

And it ends up in deadly fiascos (ex: COVID-19's hundreds of thousands preventable deaths) Justice matters. Feb 19 #11

Hopefully Greece does the same thing Renew Deal Feb 19 #12

What date will the UK remember? BidenRocks Feb 19 #13

Welp- Time to bomb the UK. NBachers Feb 19 #14

"Time to bomb the UK" markodochartaigh Feb 19 #16

I'm not really familiar with the logistics of refueling these bombers. Is it possible that they will refuel on markodochartaigh Feb 19 #15

Stand firm, UK! Bayard Feb 19 #17

We have no allies. SergeStorms Feb 19 #19

Chasstev365

(7,667 posts)

1. Good!

Reply to Mr. Sparkle (Original post)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 11:26 AM

Feb 19

C_U_L8R

(49,316 posts)

2. When does Mr Bored of Peace throw a tantrum?

Reply to Mr. Sparkle (Original post)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 11:29 AM

Feb 19

5, 4, 3, 2….

muriel_volestrangler

(106,097 posts)

3. Ah, that explains why his bullshit on Truth Social mentioned RAF Fairford, despite that being a long way

Reply to Mr. Sparkle (Original post)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 11:38 AM

Feb 19

from the Indian Ocean and the Chagos Islands.

"...Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford ..."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/19/chagos-island-deal-timeline-trump-starmer-uk

(that link, by the way, documents Trump's flip-flops on Diego Garcia - he's been for the transfer, then against, then for (as recently as Tuesday morning), and now against again.)

Joinfortmill

(21,009 posts)

4. Trump needs to be impeached, but I guess they're gonna wait until the Market crashes..and it's coming

Reply to Mr. Sparkle (Original post)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 12:32 PM

Feb 19

Mosby

(19,491 posts)

5. The markets aren't going to crash.

Reply to Joinfortmill (Reply #4)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 12:50 PM

Feb 19

Nt.

Joinfortmill

(21,009 posts)

18. I hope you're right. As for me I've tried to protect my investments as much as I can.

Reply to Mosby (Reply #5)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 02:35 PM

Feb 19

SergeStorms

(20,475 posts)

20. Perhaps, but......

Reply to Mosby (Reply #5)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 02:41 PM

Feb 19

you must agree, they're due for one helluva correction. Record profits cannot continue ad infinitum.

Exp

(914 posts)

10. Could be. Market will crash, why give TSF a gift by impeaching right before it crashes? nt

Reply to Joinfortmill (Reply #4)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 01:28 PM

Feb 19

ananda

(35,024 posts)

6. Good for Starmer. Well...

Reply to Mr. Sparkle (Original post)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 12:51 PM

Feb 19

Trump is certainly nothing if not petty.

What an ugly pissant.

electric_blue68

(26,795 posts)

7. Good to hear.

Reply to Mr. Sparkle (Original post)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 12:59 PM

Feb 19

Initech

(108,591 posts)

8. Can't wait for the angry tweet and 10,000% tariffs.

Reply to Mr. Sparkle (Original post)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 01:09 PM

Feb 19

groundloop

(13,793 posts)

9. What's keeping tRump from ignoring those agreements/treaties?

Reply to Mr. Sparkle (Original post)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 01:25 PM

Feb 19

If there's one thing we know about how tRump does things it's that he never lets a contract/agreement/treaty/law get in the way of what he wants.

Justice matters.

(9,731 posts)

11. And it ends up in deadly fiascos (ex: COVID-19's hundreds of thousands preventable deaths)

Reply to groundloop (Reply #9)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 01:45 PM

Feb 19

Also, for example, the currently covered-up murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Renew Deal

(85,038 posts)

12. Hopefully Greece does the same thing

Reply to Mr. Sparkle (Original post)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 01:59 PM

Feb 19

I saw some map that had Crete shown as one of the bases that will be used. From what I remember, it was the only EU country.

BidenRocks

(3,195 posts)

13. What date will the UK remember?

Reply to Mr. Sparkle (Original post)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 02:10 PM

Feb 19

Ours is 9-11-2001

We are setting them up!

NBachers

(19,406 posts)

14. Welp- Time to bomb the UK.

Reply to Mr. Sparkle (Original post)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 02:15 PM

Feb 19

markodochartaigh

(5,473 posts)

16. "Time to bomb the UK"

Reply to NBachers (Reply #14)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 02:19 PM

Feb 19

Not before sending in special forces to break Andy out of gaol.

markodochartaigh

(5,473 posts)

15. I'm not really familiar with the logistics of refueling these bombers. Is it possible that they will refuel on

Reply to Mr. Sparkle (Original post)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 02:17 PM

Feb 19

Epstein Island?

Bayard

(29,479 posts)

17. Stand firm, UK!

Reply to Mr. Sparkle (Original post)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 02:31 PM

Feb 19

They want no part of trump carnage.

"concerns that it would be a breach of international law which makes no distinction between a state carrying out the attack and those in support if the latter have “knowledge of the circumstances of the internationally wrongful act”."

SergeStorms

(20,475 posts)

19. We have no allies.

Reply to Mr. Sparkle (Original post)

Thu Feb 19, 2026, 02:35 PM

Feb 19

Not that I'm in favor of attacking Iran, but we're on our own if we do (except for Israel, who'd be overjoyed).

We could always count on the free nations of the world as allies. It's always been that way, at least in my lifetime. No more, though.
tRump and the MAGAts "America First" bullshit are going to insure that the U.S. slides into the abyss.

Thanks, tRump and your brain dead cult. 🖕

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