“Do not give away Diego Garcia,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, referring to the largest island in the archipelago, which hosts a major joint UK-US military base. He said the territory “should not be taken away from the U.K.” and described the potential handover as “a blight on our Great Ally”.
Trump’s remarks come despite the US government having formally backed London’s plan just a day earlier. On Tuesday, the US State Department said it supported the UK’s decision to cede sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, while leasing back Diego Garcia for 99 years.
Under the agreement, the strategically located base would continue to be used by British and American forces. However, Trump rejected the leaseback model, arguing that “leases are no good when it comes to countries” and warning UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer that he was “making a big mistake”.
The US president stressed Diego Garcia’s importance in the Indian Ocean and linked it directly to current geopolitical tensions, including negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme. Trump suggested the base could be required for potential military action should Tehran refuse to reach a deal, repeating claims that Iran poses a significant security threat — allegations Tehran has consistently denied.
Trump also criticised what he described as the UK government’s vulnerability to “wokeism”, claiming it was weakening British control over key strategic assets. His comments mark another shift in his position on the Chagos deal, after previously calling the transfer an “act of great stupidity” before later describing it as the “best” agreement Starmer could achieve.
The Chagos Islands, officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, have been under British control since 1814. Mauritius has long argued that the UK illegally retained the archipelago as part of the process leading to Mauritian independence in the 1960s — a claim that has gained growing international support in recent years.
Talks between the United States and Mauritius are expected to take place next week. The UK Foreign Office has so far declined to comment on Trump’s latest intervention.
