Derrick Wyatt's Law and Policy Blog

blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpol… Trump's war on Iran has divided UK politicians about compliance with international law Even if international law does not always dictate policy, UK Prime Ministers should have a strong preference for legality, and an aversion to needless wars My blog 🔽🔽

might interest @StimsonCenter

derrickwyatt.substack.com/p/a-trump-take… For blog click here ⬆️⬆️ A Trump takeover of the Chagos Islands is always a possibility Starmer’s Chagos deal safeguards US interests – even on nuclear weapons – but if Trump objects the deal has to stay on hold

@E_IR might interest @StimsonCenter

New article by Derrick Wyatt – Hard Power and Legitimacy in the Chagos Archipelago ift.tt/XYDS1OG

thediplomat.com/2026/03/trump-… The Chagos/Diego Garcia "pantomime" cannot go on any longer without damaging US national interests The US needs the UK and Mauritius to finalize their deal on the Chagos Islands Trump needs to act quickly or do irreparable damage to US interests 👍👍

Blog at derrickwyatt.substack.com/p/trumps-war-o… Overview🔽

Iran has rejected Trump's peace plan and tabled its own Trump might want to remind Iran that the latter's "sovereign right" over the strait of Hormuz is subject to the rights of transit passage of vessels using the strait But international law not one of Trump's strong points

Might interest @AKFREEDOM The agreement does not prevent nuclear strikes from Diego Garcia nor does it commit UK to nuclear inspections. And even if the UK/US infringe the agreement, the agreement says there is nothing that Mauritius can actually do about it.

e-ir.info/2026/02/22/har… Critics say the UK would cede advantage to China. The Chagos deal says otherwise.

If anything would tempt Iran to try a long shot (literally) at the UK, it is surely government statements and headlines like these

Ex-Trump adviser John Bolton puzzles me He has criticised Trump because the war on Iran is not designed to bring regime change Yet here Bolton urges Trump to take Kharg Island and hold it "as the regime falls" Why will it fall? How can US protect Hormuz traffic "from day one"?

might interest @SebastianEPayne

blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpol… Trump's war on Iran has divided UK politicians about compliance with international law Even if international law does not always dictate policy, UK Prime Ministers should have a strong preference for legality, and an aversion to needless wars My blog 🔽🔽

derrickwyatt.substack.com/p/perhaps-noth… As UK Defence Minister Al Carns warns that the Iran war is boosting Putin's oil revenues and warns that war with Russia could come within 3 years, seems a good time to recirculate my blog ⬇️ Perhaps nothing can stop Putin now derrickwyatt.substack.com/p/perhaps-noth…

thetimes.com/uk/defence/art… Rising oil prices have boosted Moscow's defence funding to the point where the UK could be at war with Russia within three years, UK armed forces minister Al Carns, a decorated former colonel in the Royal Marines,has warned. (But is Rachel listening, Al?)

theguardian.com/politics/2026/… Harsh reality of the UK's defence predicament from @dansabbagh querying whether Labour has the will to fix it

news.sky.com/story/sack-top… Celebrations of Daiwali in Trafalgar Square (Hindus, Sikhs, prayers are said), and Chanukahlive (Jews, prayers are said), are no more bids for domination than the Muslim faith event criticised by Conservative and Reform politicians.

politico.com/news/2026/03/1… The Pentagon’s emerging plan is to seek $200 billion in additional spending to finance President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran. (This is equal to an extra 20% on US annual Defence spend)

sorry, of course, Oman not in UAE

theguardian.com/world/2026/mar… According to Foreign Minister of Oman (UAE), Iran and the US had been on the “verge of a real deal” in nuclear negotiations held in Geneva in February. Same point as that made by UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.

blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpol… Support for international law comes from the military If the UK were to maintain an absolutist doctrine, it could place itself at a disadvantage UK Prime Ministers should combine a strong preference for legality with an aversion to needless wars

might interest @ruth_deyermond @ChathamHouse @AnthonyGlees @AmbDanFried @jonas_hinnfors @Johnmcternan @duncanrobinson @PJDunleavy @carlgardner @JohnHoCLibrary @haynesdeborah @VanberghenEU

When international law and politics converge Pentagon briefers had made the same point to lawmakers before the war started Mind you,Joe Kent has not shown good judgment in everything, e.g., 2020 election "stolen" Backing the war a stranded political asset for Tories/Reform