Ted Cruz Criticises UK for Alleged Lack of Support and Threatens Legislative Action
Republican Senator Ted Cruz, a prominent figure on the American right, has voiced strong concerns about the United Kingdom’s stance on security matters. In an exclusive interview with The i Paper at his Capitol Hill office, he expressed frustration over what he perceives as the UK’s reluctance to support US security interests.
Cruz took issue with reports that Sir Keir Starmer initially refused US requests to use UK bases for the initial waves of strikes against Iran. He warned that the British Prime Minister’s decision to disregard the long-standing alliance is “disturbing and dangerous,” and could harm the special relationship between the two nations.
“The British Prime Minister’s decision to disregard that long-standing friendship and alliance is disturbing and dangerous and does real damage to the special relationship,” he stated. The Texas senator, who finished second to Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primary, emphasized that “America values our friendship and multi-century alliance with the United Kingdom.” However, he added that “a Prime Minister whose political prospects are plummeting at home seeking out conflict with the United States is not in the interest of America or in the interest of the United Kingdom.”
Starmer later reversed his position, allowing the US to use British bases after Iran launched drones and rockets targeting UK allies in the region. The Prime Minister accused Iran of pursuing a “scorched earth strategy” but clarified that the UK would not participate in any offensive action. The US would only use bases, including the one on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands, for defensive measures, such as targeting Iranian missile sites.
Donald Trump had previously criticized the UK for taking “far too long” to allow American forces to use its bases in Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire to attack Iran.
The Middle East has been in turmoil following air strikes by the US and Israel targeting Iran’s leadership and military sites. In response, Tehran retaliated by attacking military and civilian infrastructure across the region.
In the interview, which took place before the strikes, Cruz also raised concerns about a potential deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. He threatened legislative consequences for the UK if the deal went through, claiming it would be “deeply harmful to US national security, and not in the interest of the British people.”
Cruz highlighted a 1966 diplomatic agreement between the UK and the US, emphasizing language that states the territory “shall remain under United Kingdom sovereignty.” He questioned why Starmer would consider violating a treaty with the US, stating, “I’m not sure why Prime Minister Starmer believes violating a treaty with America is a good idea.”
The proposed deal involves the UK formally ceding sovereignty of the Indian Ocean territory, which includes the Chagos Islands and specifically Diego Garcia. The base on Diego Garcia played a crucial role in the 1990-91 Gulf War and the 2003-11 Iraq War. Under the plan, the UK would lease back Diego Garcia for 99 years, paying £101m annually. Although the US State Department supported the deal, Trump abruptly changed his stance, writing on Truth Social: “DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!”
Cruz said that as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, he has “a host of tools” available to pressure the UK into reversing course. He added, “I expect to utilise an escalating series of those tools.”
Cruz had recently met with Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel and former Conservative Cabinet member Sir Liam Fox. He told The i Paper that he plans to make his case directly to the British people. He referenced Argentina’s invasion of the Falkland Islands in the 1980s to highlight the importance of maintaining British sovereignty over Diego Garcia.
“I hope the British government recognises that maintaining the ability to project force is important, not just for the United States, but for the United Kingdom,” he said. “The world is a dangerous place, and it is prudent national security policy to protect your ability to project force, both for current threats and for threats that may arise in the future.”
Cruz argued that giving up sovereignty over Diego Garcia could open the door for China, which he described as “the greatest geopolitical threat to the United States for the next century.” He pointed out that Mauritius has close ties with China and that ceding sovereignty to Mauritius could give China an excuse to intrude.
He compared the situation to the successful campaign to convince the UK to ban Huawei, a Chinese tech company tied to the Chinese state. “Thankfully, the British government reversed course. I hope the same thing happens here.”
It remains unclear what will happen next. Last week, the UK Government stated there was “no pause” in the deal, despite Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer telling MPs that the UK was pausing the process of passing legislation to transfer control of the territory.
In the meantime, Cruz, who once clashed with Trump, continues to align with the President’s call to “not give away Diego Garcia.” “President Trump is exactly right, and I hope the British government listens to him,” he said.
