US President Donald Trump urged the United Kingdom not to hand over Diego Garcia as he criticised London’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. In a social media post, Trump said the UK should not give away the territory and warned that such a move would damage a key alliance. He described the proposed agreement as a serious mistake and stressed that Britain should retain control of the strategically important island.
Despite Trump’s remarks, Washington recently gave official backing to the UK’s decision to proceed with the deal. The US Department of State confirmed its support for the agreement between London and Mauritius. However, Trump publicly questioned the value of leasing back the military base for 99 years. He argued that long-term leases weaken national control and said Prime Minister Keir Starmer was making an error.
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Trump criticises UK over Chagos deal
The UK government defended the agreement and called it essential for national and allied security. The Foreign Office stated that the deal guarantees the long-term future of the military base on Diego Garcia. Prime Minister Starmer has repeatedly maintained that the agreement protects the base’s operations and resolves ongoing legal disputes raised by Mauritius over sovereignty.
Trump also highlighted Diego Garcia’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean and linked it to rising tensions with Iran. He suggested the US might need to use the base if diplomatic talks with Tehran fail. Trump warned that Iran’s nuclear activities and regional actions could require military readiness. His comments added a geopolitical dimension to the ongoing debate over the Chagos deal.
Opposition leaders in the UK reacted strongly to Trump’s intervention. Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel called the situation embarrassing for the prime minister and urged him to cancel the agreement. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Trump’s shifting position showed Britain should strengthen ties with Europe. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage supported Trump’s criticism and demanded that the government scrap the deal entirely.
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