Great Britain’s embattled prime minister, Keir Starmer, has publicly denounced any plans for “regime change” in Iran which would topple the murderous Islamic regime there.
That stance came after Great Britain, watching the Pentagon stack up military assets in the region, informed the U.S. it wouldn’t allow the key Diego Garcia military base (pictured below) to be used for an expected attack on Iran.
President Trump, in comments this week, called the UK “uncooperative” and said Starmer is “no Winston Churchhill,” referring to the country’s famous prime minister during World War 2.
After an Iranian drone hit a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus, which happened March 2, Starmer’s anti-war stance softened but somewhat, according to news reports.
A related Fox News story, published March 4, said B-2 Spirit bombers will be landing soon on Diego Garcia and at RAF Fairford, an air base located in the ceremonial county Gloucestershire.
Among the worst reactions to Operation Epic Fury is Spain, where its government publicly announced the U.S. military cannot not use two joint U.S.-Spain military bases if they are used to support Epic Fury.
The two bases there are a naval base, Rota, and Moron Air Base. The air base, which boasts one of the longest runways in Europe, is a vital staging area for U.S. Air Force refueling tankers that keep fighters and bombers refueled.
Spain, a NATO member, is among the military alliance’s worst contributors. After lowering its contribution to 2.1%, President Trump threatened the nation last year for failing to honor NATO’s pledge to contribute 5% of each nation’s GDP.
The announcement by Spain’s defense minister came February 28, the day air attacks began over Iran, and by March 2 flight tracking data showed the U.S. tankers had departed Moron for air bases in Germany and France.
President Trump, furious over Spain’s stance on Operation Epic Fury, quickly threatened to completely shut off official trade with Spain.
Reacting to Trump’s economic threat, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez delivered a national address that staked out an anti-war, non-violent position.
“We reject the breach of international law that protects us all, especially the most vulnerable members, the civilian population,” Sanchez said.
Dr. Glen Duerr, professor of International Studies at Cedarville University, told AFN he can understand Trump’s anger at Spain and at Sanchez.
“To not speak out against Iran is certainly problematic,” Duerr said, “given the brutality against the protesters and their ongoing desire to develop a nuclear weapon.”
After the prime minister’s national address, Sanchez’s stance was rebuked by Isabel Diaz Ayuso, one of his chief political rivals. A leader of Spain’s main conservative party, the People’s Party, she said Sanchez’s stance would “ruin” and “isolate” Spain, and she mocked his “No to War” speech.
“Today, the only ones congratulating Sánchez’s Spain are terrorist groups like Hamas, or theocracies like Iran, and China,” she told reporters.
