Trump says the US reserves the right to militarily protect Diego Garcia’s base operations if needed
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President Donald Trump has warned that the US could use the military to protect the Diego Garcia air base in the Chagos Islands if any future deal threatens to reach a joint US-UK installation.
Trump made these comments on Thursday in the book Truth Social while showing his willingness to remove past differences with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after what he described as “very productive discussions,” about the Indian Ocean background.
Emphasizing the strategic importance of the base, Trump said Diego Garcia’s role is essential to US national security.
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Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands and home to a US military base in the middle of the Indian Ocean, was leased to the UK in 1966. (Reuters)
“It is the base of the US military base, ideally located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and therefore, it is very important to the national security of the United States,” wrote Trump.
Trump also acknowledged that the UK made what he called “the best deal he could make” under the controversial agreement to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while leasing Diego Garcia for at least 99 years.
“However, if the lease, in the future, falls apart, or anyone threatens or threatens to work with US forces in our territory, I reserve the right to defend the war and strengthen the American presence in Diego Garcia,” warned Trump.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Donald Trump are looking to resolve past disagreements over Diego Garcia’s military base in the Chagos Islands. (Reuters/Suzanne Plunkett/Pool)
“Let it be known that I will never allow our presence at a base as important as this to be undermined or intimidated by false accusations or local nonsense,” he added.
The comments marked a slight shift in tone from Trump, who in January slammed the UK-Mauritius deal as “an act of utter stupidity” and “an act of utter weakness,” accusing Britain of donating critical military equipment.
Diego Garcia serves as a hub for long-range bombers, logistics, intelligence collection and military communications throughout the Middle East, Indo-Pacific and Africa, manning approximately 2,500 US and military and civilian personnel.
The island’s base has been used for long-range US operations such as in Afghanistan and Yemen.
According to Reuters, Downing Street confirmed that Trump and Starmer spoke with Diego Garcia during a recent phone call and agreed to protect the foundation’s continued operations.
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Diego Garcia is a strategic Indian Ocean base that hosts 2,500 US troops. (Reuters)
“Turning to Diego Garcia, and the agreement that the UK has reached to maintain control of the US-UK military base to protect national security, leaders have recognized the strategic importance,” said a spokesman for No. 10.
“The leaders agreed that their governments will continue to work together to ensure the future operation of the site and to speak again soon.”
Under the deal, British taxpayers are expected to pay around £35 billion [$47B] over the next century, including annual payments of around £160 million [$216M] in Mauritius, according to public standards.
Britain also agreed to about £3 billion [$4 billion] in compensation during the life of the lease, with an option to extend the lease for an additional 50 years.
The deal has also drawn criticism from Britain’s Conservative Party, which says the deal weakens the UK’s strategic position and risks undermining the long-standing security relationship with the US.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference in London. (Thomas Krych/Pool via Reuters)
Mauritius said its sovereignty over the islands is “unequivocally recognized” under international law and called for the immediate implementation of the agreement.
As previously reported by Fox News Digital, a Downing Street spokesman also said in January that the UK was continuing efforts to “eliminate any concerns” in Washington.
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“We will continue to engage with the US on this important issue and the importance of the agreement to protect US and UK interests,” the spokesman said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and Downing Street for comment.
