Concern is growing among Gulf allies regarding the UK’s strategic approach in the Middle East, raising questions about Britain’s readiness and speed in supporting partners amid the current crisis.
Initially, Keir Starmer’s government took a cautious stance on coalition operations against Iran, choosing not to authorise the immediate use of British bases by the United States for strike missions.
Downing Street argued that any military action needed to be part of a coherent operational framework, rather than what officials referred to as “regime change from the skies.”
However, permission for limited U.S. use of UK facilities was later granted after Iranian attacks had already targeted several allied positions in the region.
This response has caused unease among strategic partners. Kyriacos Kouros welcomed the deployment of British forces. Still, it criticised the slow pace of reinforcement, warning that allies expected a more visible UK presence following drone and missile activity affecting the eastern Mediterranean.
Within the Gulf, sentiment among members of the Gulf Cooperation Council has been mixed, with some officials voicing concerns that London was slow to commit military assets.
Sky News reported a source familiar with the UAE’s concerns told the Times: “There was a feeling that the prime minister had to be dragged there.
“It obviously reflects badly in the eyes of the Gulf Cooperation Council.”
Sky News host Rowan Dean said on the Bolt Report: “Keir Starmer is definitely the absolute worst, weakest, most pathetic prime minister that the UK has ever had.”
Much of the strategic debate has focused on the long-term importance of the UK–U.S. base at Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands. Defence planners consider this base crucial for staging and surveillance operations across the Middle East and Indian Ocean.
Critics have linked the government’s policy on transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius with broader concerns about Britain’s strategic presence. Some commentators, including Rowan Dean, argue that international legal pressure has weakened Western defence positioning; however, such claims remain politically contested.
The US President called the handover of the Chagos Island’s “an act of great stupidity.”
Defence analysts suggest that this episode highlights a larger challenge facing UK foreign policy: balancing alliance commitments, domestic political considerations, and the operational tempo expected by Gulf partners during high-intensity regional conflicts.
Downing Street spokeswoman insisted the decision had “the full support of the cabinet”.
“We have taken significant and concrete steps to bolster our defences in the region,” a government spokesman told the Times.
“Our jets – Typhoons and F-35s – have been flying regular defensive sorties from Cyprus and Qatar, successfully taking out Iranian drones threatening the region … we stand ready to protect British interests and those of our allies.”
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