The United Kingdom has authorized the United States to utilize British military bases for strikes against Iranian missile sites in the Strait of Hormuz, a move that follows fierce criticism from President Donald Trump regarding NATO’s role in the conflict.
Downing Street confirmed on Friday evening, March 20, 2026, that the British government has authorized the United States to use military bases in the UK and its territories—including RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia—to launch strikes against Iranian missile positions. This significant shift in policy follows a high-level ministerial meeting aimed at addressing the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian forces have utilized drones and missiles to halt approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply since the conflict began on February 28. While Prime Minister Keir Starmer maintains that British forces will not be directly involved in the offensive, the agreement permits U.S. “defensive operations” to systematically degrade Iranian capabilities that threaten international commercial shipping.
The decision marks a pivot from the UK’s initial refusal to be drawn into the wider U.S.-Israeli military campaign. A Downing Street spokesperson stated that ministers agreed the move was necessary for the “collective self-defence of the region,” citing the rising economic impact of the war on global markets. “They confirmed that the agreement for the US to use UK bases… includes US defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement read. The authorization expands on previous, more restrictive permissions that only allowed U.S. forces to use British soil to counter direct threats to British lives or specific regional interests.
The timing of the announcement appears closely linked to a series of scathing public attacks from President Donald Trump. Earlier on Friday, the U.S. President took to Truth Social to label NATO allies “cowards” and dismissed the alliance as a “paper tiger” for their perceived reluctance to assist in reopening the vital waterway. “Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices… but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump posted, adding, “COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!” Though the UK continues to call for “urgent de-escalation,” the base authorization provides the U.S. with the logistical reach required to intensify Operation Epic Fury against Iranian coastal defenses.
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