Trump criticizes UKs Starmer over Chagos Islands diplomatic agreement

US President Donald Trump has made a statement on the UK’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which was officially approved by the US Department of State earlier this week. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed concerns over the agreement, stating that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is “making a big mistake” in the deal.

The UK Foreign Ministry has described the agreement as “crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe.” The ministry added that the agreement was necessary to guarantee the long-term future of the Diego Garcia military base, which is leased to the US.

Trump’s statement also mentioned the potential need for the US to utilize Diego Garcia in response to a possible attack from Iran. He stated that such an attack “would potentially be made” on the UK and other friendly countries. The US president also expressed concerns over the lease agreement, describing it as “tenuous.”

The Chagos Islands have been part of British territory since 1814, with the UK detaching them from Mauritius before they gained independence in the 1960s. In 2019, Mauritius won its legal battle for sovereignty over the islands, and a UN resolution gave the UK six months to hand them back.

The UK will maintain a 99-year lease of Diego Garcia, which will cost around $135 million per year. The US has previously criticized the agreement, but Trump’s statement suggests that he is now supporting it. A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed that the deal was necessary to ensure the security of the UK and its allies.

The Chagossian community, who were forcibly removed from the islands in the 1960s, have been fighting to return to their homeland for years.

Source: Al Jazeera