US President Donald Trump told The Telegraph that he is "very disappointed" in British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for blocking the use of the Diego Garcia base for strikes on Iran.

In an exclusive interview, the American president said that the prime minister's initial refusal to grant US forces access to the base on the Chagos Islands was "unprecedented" in the history of relations between the two countries.

Britain refused the US use of bases such as Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford, citing international law. However, on Sunday evening the prime minister did allow the US access to Diego Garcia "for specific and limited defensive purposes."

Trump noted that Sir Keir had taken "too long" to make the decision. "That probably has never happened between our countries," he said, adding: "It seems he was worried about the legality."

The dispute over Diego Garcia also led Trump to withdraw support for Starmer's controversial deal to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius with a subsequent lease of the military base.

"Suddenly [Mauritius] started claiming ownership. He should have fought and proven ownership or made them do it, if you want to know the truth. But no, we were very disappointed in Keir," Trump said.

Tension After the Authorization

After the prime minister on Sunday evening authorized the use of US bases for strikes on Iran, an Iranian Shahed attack drone struck the British RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus.

British military personnel were issued a "security threat" alert and told to take cover as explosions were heard in the Limassol area. There were no casualties, but the Ministry of Defence evacuated service members' families.

Despite supporting the destruction of Iran's strike capabilities "at the source," Sir Keir did not authorize British troop participation in the American-Israeli operation.

Strategic Significance of Diego Garcia

Diego Garcia, a British territory, is located 2,400 miles from Iran's southern coast. This puts the base out of reach of Iranian ballistic missiles, but allows American B2 bombers to conduct operations.

Britain argues that the deal to hand the islands to Mauritius is the only way to ensure the base continues to operate. Britain will maintain Diego Garcia under Mauritian sovereignty for £35 billion over 99 years.

Trump initially supported the deal, viewing it as a diplomatic victory, but changed his position on January 20, launching an attack on the deal via Truth Social, calling it "a great folly." Ten days later he again recognized it as "the best deal Sir Keir could make." On February 10 he again came out against the deal when Britain, in his view, refused to authorize use of the base ahead of the strikes on Iran.

The Pentagon requested use of British bases on Saturday to destroy Iranian missile capabilities. The request came as Iran was launching missile strikes across Middle Eastern countries, which made it easier for Britain to comply with international law.

Allied Reaction

On Monday, the US Secretary of Defense accused America's traditional allies of "panicking" and "shrieking" over the use of force against Iran. "Capable partners are good partners, unlike many of our traditional allies who are hand-wringing, shrieking, and dithering about the use of force," Pete Hegseth said at a Pentagon press conference. "America, regardless of what so-called international institutions say, is unleashing the most lethal and precise air power campaign in history."