US President Donald Trump has sharply criticised the UK’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, despite official support from the US Department of State for the arrangement.
Trump called Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s decision “a big mistake” and urged him not to “give away Diego Garcia”, the site of a joint UK–US military base, in a Truth Social post.
Trump’s statement referenced current US–Iran tensions, warning that “Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime,” Trump added.
This land should not be taken away from the U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally. We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the U.K., but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them. DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!
Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed to return the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius, while securing a 99-year lease of Diego Garcia, home to a joint UK–US military base.
Key developments:
• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) advised the UK in 2019 to cede control.
• A subsequent UN resolution set a six-month deadline.
• The lease is estimated to cost around £100m per year.
• The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the deal safeguards UK and allied security.
Chagossians continue to campaign for resettlement.
ℹ️ Al Jazeera
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