Britain, along with all other nation states, must decide if it is for or against the USA’s attack on Iran. The USA thinks that it has the right to exert leverage over global energy markets, a long standing policy which predates Trump. Once again it has decided to act on that belief.
With the war in Ukraine, the USA – eagerly assisted by the European Union – has been instrumental in moving European countries into a dependence on American liquefied natural gas.
Control
This year the USA has attacked Venezuela and intends to control its oil reserves. It has made claim to Greenland to ensure control of the northern sea route which would prevent oil from Russia quickly reaching China via Murmansk.
Now with its attack on Iran, another oil rich country, the USA has unleashed a conflict which has already involved at least ten other countries. But war has its own dynamic which can swiftly move beyond the control of the original aggressor.
No surprise
Starmer made a two-day show of “hesitation” and waited to make a joint statement with France and Germany basically supporting this US-led war, like a schoolboy waiting for his mates Macron and Mertz – “defensively” of course. That was no surprise: to have opposed the war completely would have been to question Britain’s membership of NATO and the presence of US bases all over the country.
‘The British people were not asked for their opinion; they do not support this war.’
Given the decisions that Starmer has made to support NATO since taking office – to increase our financial commitment to the alliance, and to allow US nuclear weapons to return to British soil for the first time in 15 years – this “hesitation” for legal niceties fooled no one.
Of course the British people were not asked for their opinion; they do not support this war at all. YouGov polling released on Monday 2 March suggests the British public opposes US military action against Iran by 49 to 28 per cent. Half of those polled also oppose the government allowing the USA to use British airbases; 30 per cent supported the move.
Target
The long held-position of the CPBML is that US bases on sovereign British territory will make Britain a target. That reality is evident as the dynamic of this war unfolds across the Middle East and potentially wider areas.
CND has a map on its website with the locations of US bases in Britain. Take a look at their proximity to your town. The bases shown are all in England, but both Wales and Scotland have many UK military sites integrated with NATO activity. And RAF Lossiemouth in Moray has hosted a US Navy detachment since 2024 – marking the return of US military forces to Scotland for the first time in 30 years.
‘Obligation’
At the Munich Security Conference in February, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: “I believe the time has come to bring Europe’s mutual defence clause to life.” She argued that mutual defence is not optional for the EU and said it is an “obligation within our own treaty”.
‘Workers have to take responsibility for our nation.’
We can observe what happens elsewhere but we can only influence what happens in Britain . As a working class we have to take responsibility for our nation. After all, we are the overwhelming majority.
This is not a war of our making. We want no part of it. To that end we must get out of NATO and eject US bases from our territory. We can and must make those demands on the streets and in our trade unions without delay.