Washington is reportedly pressuring the new UK prime minister to continue his predecessor’s policy
US President Donald Trump is allegedly pressing the new British prime minister, Andy Burnham, to continue allowing American forces to use UK military bases for strikes on Iran, The Telegraph claimed on Tuesday.
The report came after the two leaders held their first phone call on Monday, shortly after Burnham formally took office. Trump described the conversation as “very good” and praised the “outstanding relationship” between the US and UK.
According to Trump, the two discussed North Sea oil, trade, their military alliance, and the demining of the Strait of Hormuz, among other issues. Burnham also invited the US president to Manchester for next year’s G20 summit.
Neither side publicly said whether the use of British military facilities was discussed. However, The Telegraph reported that Washington has demanded that Burnham continue to let the US use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia, the British-controlled military base in the Indian Ocean.
A US official told the newspaper that Trump remained deeply disappointed with NATO countries that had refused or restricted American access to their bases during the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, initially rejected a US request to use Diego Garcia for strikes on Iran. The decision angered Trump, who later said he was “very disappointed” in the British prime minister, and contributed to a sharp deterioration in relations between London and Washington.
Britain later allowed American aircraft to operate from RAF Fairford, but the base has since become a focus of anti-war protests demanding that London prevent British territory from being used in attacks on Iran.
Burnham has not publicly stated whether he intends to maintain or expand US access, or prevent further strikes from British-controlled facilities, which would likely further sour relations with the US.
His decision is expected to be shaped by opposition within the Labour Party, where a significant number of legislators have criticized the US-Israeli war on Iran, and by his own cabinet after appointing Ed Miliband as foreign secretary. Miliband previously helped persuade Starmer to reject Washington’s original request to use British bases.
The new prime minister has been presented by supporters and sections of the British media as a symbol of political “renewal” after Starmer’s deeply unpopular tenure. Burnham himself has promised an “era of hope” and a “renewal for our party and our country.”
On broader foreign policy, however, Burnham has so far signaled continuity rather than change. He has pledged to maintain Britain’s support for Ukraine, strengthen military ties with the EU, and continue increasing defense spending despite the country’s escalating cost-of-living crisis, weakening public services, and rising unemployment.
