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yaesu

(9,201 posts)
Sat Feb 28, 2026, 10:08 AM 5 hrs ago

Sir Keir Starmer has said British planes "are in the sky today" in the Middle East "as part of co-ordinated regional

defensive operations to protect our people, our interests and our allies”.

Per guardian

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Sir Keir Starmer has said British planes "are in the sky today" in the Middle East "as part of co-ordinated regional (Original Post) yaesu 5 hrs ago OP
Time for a new government in the UK. Ritabert 5 hrs ago #1
Not surprising. UK economy is in a bad place and last thing they need is interruption of oil supplies/spike in prices dutch777 4 hrs ago #2
This will bring Starmer down JCMach1 4 hrs ago #3
He was already on thin ice over ill targeted tax increases and a weak economy, this could be another issue dutch777 4 hrs ago #5
I don't think so at all. muriel_volestrangler 3 hrs ago #7
I'm not sure why this is being framed as controversial. They're not participating in Trump's military operations. tritsofme 4 hrs ago #4
So the British should Greg_In_SF 4 hrs ago #6
That's how I see it PatSeg 2 hrs ago #8

dutch777

(5,011 posts)
2. Not surprising. UK economy is in a bad place and last thing they need is interruption of oil supplies/spike in prices
Sat Feb 28, 2026, 11:05 AM
4 hrs ago

Plus to the degree you can buy influence with Arab leaders, protecting them, their hold on power and their assets with your military power is a very good method. Brits have been playing this game much longer than the US. Will be interesting to see if Iran strikes at tankers and oil shipping facilities in the Gulf area.

dutch777

(5,011 posts)
5. He was already on thin ice over ill targeted tax increases and a weak economy, this could be another issue
Sat Feb 28, 2026, 11:19 AM
4 hrs ago

If there are British casualties or damage to British interests, certainly could be an issue for him.

muriel_volestrangler

(105,984 posts)
7. I don't think so at all.
Sat Feb 28, 2026, 12:45 PM
3 hrs ago

Defending the countries that the UK has made agreements with to have military personnel based there is completely uncontroversial. It was already made clear Starmer wasn't allowing the UK air bases to be used for the US bombing missions.

I expect the Tory opposition will say they want the UK to go further, eg allowing the base use, or to join in. The vast majority of Labour MPs will think Starmer's doing the right thing in the circumstances.

tritsofme

(19,867 posts)
4. I'm not sure why this is being framed as controversial. They're not participating in Trump's military operations.
Sat Feb 28, 2026, 11:16 AM
4 hrs ago

Not carrying out such defensive operations would be completely negligent.

Greg_In_SF

(1,148 posts)
6. So the British should
Sat Feb 28, 2026, 11:34 AM
4 hrs ago
not be conducting defensive operations to protect their bases in Qatar, Cyprus, Oman, Saudi Arabia and those of their allies?

PatSeg

(52,892 posts)
8. That's how I see it
Sat Feb 28, 2026, 12:49 PM
2 hrs ago

It is not in support of Trump's attacks, but to protect their own interests in the region.

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