{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1596037,
        "msgid": "us-begins-using-british-military-bases-1772927670",
        "date": "2026-03-08 06:30:00",
        "title": "US Begins Using British Military Bases",
        "author": "Thalatie Kaprina Yani",
        "source": "MEDIA_INDONESIA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "The UK confirms that the United States has begun using British bases, including RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia, to support military operations against Iran amid the Middle East conflict. The decision marks a significant policy shift under Prime Minister Keir Starmer and has provoked domestic debate and protests over sovereignty, legality, and alliance dynamics.",
        "content": "<p>The British government has announced that the United States has begun\nutilising a number of British military bases to support military\noperations against Iran amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.\nThe Ministry of Defence said the US is using these strategic sites for\ndefensive operations aimed at preventing Iran from firing missiles into\nthe region. This permission was granted after Prime Minister Keir\nStarmer approved the request to use two key bases, RAF Fairford in\nGloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. U.S. military\nactivity at RAF Fairford has become visible, with a B-1 Lancer bomber\nlanding on Saturday, followed by the appearance of a large C-5 Galaxy\ntransport aircraft on the same runway. The presence of these assets\ntriggered protests by anti-war groups outside the base. Although the UK\nultimately relented, U.S. President Donald Trump criticised Starmer\u2019s\ninitial reluctance to involve the UK in the conflict. Trump posted on\nTruth Social denying a possible deployment of two Royal Navy aircraft\ncarriers to the region, saying that the United Kingdom might be\nBritain\u2019s biggest ally, but Starmer should not join a war after victory.\nStarmer\u2019s decision to permit the use of the bases represents a\nsignificant shift; he had previously argued that any action by the UK\nmust have a lawful basis and a clear plan. The move is seen as a\nresponse to Iranian missile and drone attacks in retaliation for the\nUS-Israel strike, which is viewed as a threat to UK interests and allies\nin the region. The issue remains sensitive within the Labour Party, with\nMPs wary of echoes of Tony Blair\u2019s support for the 2003 invasion of\nIraq. A Survation poll indicated that 56% of Britons support Starmer\u2019s\ninitial decision not to participate in an early strike. Demonstrations\nin London also occurred, with thousands marching to the U.S. Embassy,\ncarrying banners calling for an end to arms supplies to Israel. By 27\nFebruary there had been no formal request to underpin the decision.\nTrump acknowledged that the US-UK relationship had become less close\nthan in the past after Starmer initially refused to approve the use of\nDiego Garcia for operations against Iran. Cyprus expressed strong\nprotests after drone attacks hit RAF Akrotiri, with Nicosia demanding\nassurances that the base would be used only for humanitarian missions,\nnot military strikes. Diego Garcia remains the joint UK-US base located\nin the Indian Ocean, roughly 2,000 kilometres south of Sumatra. The move\nis part of a broader US campaign in coordination with Israel against\nIran.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-begins-using-british-military-bases-1772927670",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}