Trump opposes Chagos handover, warns Diego Garcia base is critical as UK defends Mauritius sovereignty agreement.
US President Donald Trump has urged the UK not to “give away” Diego Garcia, sharply criticizing London’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back the key military base.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the territory “should not be taken away from the UK” and warned that doing so would be “a blight on our Great Ally.” His comments come despite the US government formally backing the agreement earlier this week.
The deal would see Britain cede sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius while securing a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago and home to a strategically important joint UK-US military base.
Diego Garcia’s location in the Indian Ocean has long made it central to Western military operations in the Middle East and Asia. Trump described it as “strategically located” and warned that long-term leases between nations were “no good”.
Referring to ongoing tensions with Iran over its nuclear program, Trump suggested the base could be critical if military action were required. He has repeatedly threatened force against Tehran over its nuclear activities and domestic crackdowns, allegations Iran denies.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended the agreement, arguing it is essential to secure the long-term future of the base amid legal challenges from Mauritius over Britain’s sovereignty claim. The Foreign Office said the deal was “crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies”.
On Tuesday, the US State Department formally supported Britain’s decision to proceed with the agreement. However, Trump’s latest remarks appear to contradict that endorsement, marking another shift in his public stance. He has previously described the deal as both an “act of great stupidity” and the “best” arrangement available.
Opposition figures in the UK seized on Trump’s intervention. Conservative MP Dame Priti Patel called it “an utter humiliation” for Starmer, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the episode showed Britain could not rely solely on Washington under Trump’s leadership. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage praised the US president’s criticism and urged the government to scrap the deal.
The Chagos Islands, located roughly 1,250 miles northeast of Mauritius, have been under British control since 1814. In the late 1960s, Britain allowed the US to build the Diego Garcia base, forcibly removing thousands of islanders. Many settled in Mauritius, the Seychelles, and the UK.
Mauritius has long argued that Britain unlawfully separated the islands before granting it independence. Talks between the US and Mauritius are expected next week as debate over the future of the strategically vital territory intensifies.