U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hold a press conference after meeting at Checkers, near Aylesbury, England, on September 18, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
US President Donald Trump has once again criticized Britain’s plan to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, telling Mauritius not to “cede” the territory, which is home to strategic US and British military bases.
“Don’t let Diego Garcia go!” President Trump posted on his “Truth” social media platform on Wednesday, saying he had told British Prime Minister Keir Starmer “we should not lose control of Diego Garcia for any reason.”
In May 2025, Britain agreed to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which has long disputed Britain’s acquisition and ownership of the archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
Under the deal, Britain will lease back the military base it shares with the United States on Diego Garcia, the archipelago’s largest island, for an initial 99 years for 101 million pounds ($135.7 million) a year.
The United States has previously expressed support for the deal, with the State Department saying Tuesday it “supports the United Kingdom’s decision to proceed with the agreement with Mauritius regarding the Chagos Islands.”
President Trump seesaws agreement
However, President Trump is not the biggest supporter of the Chagos Agreement, and opinions are divided over the issue of ceding territory to Mauritius.
In January he called the deal “a very stupid thing”, but in early February he took a more conciliatory stance, telling Truth Social: “I understand that the deal Starmer has struck is the best he can do, according to many people.”
“However, if at some point in the future the lease agreement breaks down or someone threatens or jeopardizes U.S. military operations or bases, I reserve the right to militarily secure and strengthen the U.S. military presence in Diego Garcia.”
Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago, British Indian Ocean Territory, on July 2, 2013.
USGS NASA | Gallo Images | Getty Images
On Wednesday, he returned to his negative stance on the deal, saying he had told Mr Starmer that “lease agreements are of no use when it comes to the state”.
“He is making a huge mistake by entering into a 100-year lease with someone who has a ‘claim’ to the strategically located Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean with the right, title and interest,” Trump said.
The president suggested the transfer of the islands was an act of “walkism”, coming after Britain faced continued international and legal pressure to abandon the islands and correct its troubling colonial history.
“We are always ready, willing and able to fight for Britain, but Britain must remain strong in the face of walkism and other challenges before us,” Trump said.
Britain has repeatedly said it will “never compromise our national security” regarding the Chagos agreement.
Iran’s actions?
President Trump also suggested Wednesday that a joint military base on the island could be crucial if military action is taken against Iran, meaning the Islamic Republic does not agree to a new nuclear deal during current talks with the United States.
“If Iran decides not to reach a deal, the United States may need to use its airfields in Diego Garcia and Fairford to root out potential attacks by a highly unstable and dangerous regime, which could also be carried out against the United Kingdom or other friendly nations,” Trump said.
The U.S. and Mauritius are scheduled to hold talks on the Chagos Agreement next week from February 23 to 25, and the U.S. State Department said the talks “highlight the continued importance of the Chagos Islands and the U.S.-British joint base in Diego Garcia to national security.”
“The consultations will focus on bilateral security cooperation and the effective implementation of security arrangements to ensure the long-term and safe operation of the base,” the ministry said.
