Blockading the US air base at RAF Lakenheath, 26 April 2025. Photo Workers.
Whatever the prime minister is saying about caution, President Trump is already using British bases to further warmaking in the Middle East.
In all, Trump has sent eight heavy-lift cargo jets and 27 refuelling planes to Britain, Spain, Italy, Germany, Crete and Estonia since 16 June. Other NATO member countries’ governments are rallying behind Trump (and Netanyahu).
The government has allowed Trump to use RAF Mildenhall to send an aerial refuelling tanker aircraft and a long-range, heavy-lift transport aircraft, and RAF Lakenheath to send at least four Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth strike fighter jets to Qatar.
Starmer has also allowed him to use Glasgow Prestwick civil airport to send five tanker aircraft and two cargo planes.
And to directly support the war effort, Starmer has sent yet more Typhoon fighter jets and Voyager air-to-air refueling planes to the British “sovereign base” in Akrotiri, Cyprus.