US EditionTrump says UK's Starmer making 'a big mistake' on Diego Garcia lease
Trump warned Starmer that ceding Diego Garcia risks US-UK military readiness amid Iran tensions, opposing a 99-year lease despite State Department support for the UK-Mauritius deal.
- The State Department will hold three days of talks next week in Port Louis on Diego Garcia to discuss security arrangements for US operations.
- The May 2025 UK‑Mauritius agreement involves returning the Chagos Archipelago in exchange for a 99‑year British lease of Diego Garcia at about US$100 million a year, following a 2019 ICJ ruling.
- Diego Garcia's location allows wide regional reach; US forces see it as vital for operations despite legal constraints like the African Nuclear‑Weapon‑Free Zone and transit ambiguities.
- The United States said it supports Britain and is holding talks with Britain as President Donald Trump called the transfer an `act of GREAT STUPIDITY` and warned he would militarily reinforce US presence if threatened.
- Some experts propose a regional AUKUS or Quad‑plus‑British hub at Diego Garcia, while observers warn Mauritius' growing economic ties to Beijing could increase Chinese influence, affecting long‑term control of the base.
157 Articles
157 Articles
The Diego Garcia Mistake Donald Trump Must Fix
Summary and Key Points: On February 18, 2026, President Trump publicly warned British PM Keir Starmer that entering a 100-year lease for Diego Garcia with Mauritius is a “big mistake.” -Contradicting previous State Department backing, Trump argued that the base’s sovereignty is non-negotiable, particularly as tensions with Iran reach a breaking point. -With the Starmer […] The post The Diego Garcia Mistake Donald Trump Must Fix appeared first on…
NEW: UK Government Caves, Pauses Plans For Strategically Vital Island After Pressure From Trump
The United Kingdom has temporarily halted progress on a significant agreement involving the Chagos Archipelago, including the strategically important atoll of Diego Garcia, in response to recent pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump. Diego Garcia is a coral atoll located in the central Indian Ocean, approximately 1,600 kilometers south of India and 3,200 kilometers east of Tanzania. It forms part of the Chagos Archipelago, which has been adm…
As pressure on Iran increases, Trump leans on UK not to lease strategic Diego Garcia
by WorldTribune Staff, February 19, 2026 Real World News U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was “making a big mistake” in agreeing to transfer sovereignty to the nation of Mauritius an island chain in the Indian Ocean which includes Diego Garcia, an atoll in the Chagos Archipelago which houses […]
As Iran strikes loom, US and UK fight over Indian Ocean base
As the U.S. surges troops to the Middle East, a battle is brewing over a strategically significant American base in the middle of the Indian Ocean.President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he would oppose any effort to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, arguing that a U.S. base on the island of Diego Garcia may be necessary to “eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous [Iranian] Regime.” The comment came just a d…
The British want to hand over the Chagos islands to Mauritius, but keep the military base. Washington's approval is now the biggest challenge.
Trump Warns U.K. Not to 'Lose Control' of Chagos Islands
President Donald Trump warned U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer against handing over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, arguing it could leave Britain vulnerable to a potential attack from the “highly unstable and dangerous” Iranian regime. Diego Garcia of the Chagos Islands is currently home to a strategic U.K.-U.S. military base—a fact Trump referred to in his statement. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] “Should Iran decide not …
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