Donald Trump has publicly urged British Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to cede control of the Chagos Islands, including the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base, to Mauritius. The former US president took to his Truth Social platform on Saturday to declare, in capital letters, “DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!”
Trump’s intervention comes as the UK prepares to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius under a 2025 agreement, while retaining control of Diego Garcia via a 99-year lease. He argued that Starmer was making a “big mistake” by entering into what he described as a “tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease,” asserting that leases are insufficient guarantees when it comes to national interests.
“He is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease with whoever it is that is ‘claiming’ Right, Title and Interest to Diego Garcia,” Trump stated. He added that he had spoken with Starmer about the issue.
A British Foreign Office spokesperson responded to Trump’s comments by stating that the deal with Mauritius was “crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies.” The spokesperson affirmed that the agreement was “the only way to guarantee the long-term future of this vital military base.” Under the terms of the agreement, the UK would require prior approval for any operations originating from Diego Garcia.
The Chagos Islands, located in the Indian Ocean approximately 500 kilometers from the Maldives, consist of 60 islands and a population of under 5,000. The US military currently utilizes Diego Garcia, having stationed six B-2 bomber planes there as of April 2025.
The US State Department issued a statement on February 17 supporting the UK’s agreement with Mauritius, a position Trump has repeatedly challenged. His comments this week represent the latest shift in his stance on the issue, having previously expressed support for the deal last year, then denouncing it as “great stupidity” in January, and later suggesting it was the best outcome for the UK before renewing his criticism.
The agreement has faced opposition from various groups. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has called on both the UK and Mauritius not to ratify the agreement, citing concerns about perpetuating historical rights violations. Some Chagossians, the original inhabitants of the islands who were forcibly removed in the 1960s and 1970s, have also criticized the deal, alleging decades of neglect by Mauritius – a claim Mauritius denies.
Four Chagossians landed on one of the atolls on February 17, intending to establish a permanent settlement. Misley Mandarin, one of those who arrived, stated, “I am not in exile anymore. This represents my homeland,” adding that his father, Michel Mandarin, who was removed from the island at age 14, was with him. Mauritius Attorney General Gavin Glover characterized the landing as a “publicity stunt organised to create a situation of conflict with the British government.” British authorities have issued removal orders against the four Chagossians, deeming their arrival an “illegal, unsafe stunt.”
A meeting between British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio took place in Washington on Friday to discuss the lease agreement, alongside broader mutual defence and security concerns.
