Donald Trump Endorses UK-Mauritius Chagos Islands Agreement

The United States has expressed its backing for the United Kingdom's recent agreement to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining control of a vital military base. On Thursday, the US President, Donald Trump, conveyed his approval during a conversation with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, stating that the deal represents the best outcome achievable.

This development follows a phase of uncertainty that arose after President Trump's previous remarks, where he labelled the deal an 'act of great stupidity'. The comments prompted intensified discussions between UK and US officials to affirm American support for the agreement, which has significant implications for the future of the joint UK-US military operation based at Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago.

According to a spokesperson from Downing Street, both leaders discussed the necessity of the agreement to secure the military base's continued operation. The spokesperson stated that the UK and US will continue to collaborate closely on the deal’s implementation.

In a post on his Truth Social platform earlier on Thursday, Trump referred to his dialogue with Sir Keir Starmer as 'very productive', emphasising that while the agreement made by the Prime Minister is seen as the best option, he reserves the right to act militarily if US operations at Diego Garcia face any threats.

Trump noted, 'Should the lease deal fall apart in the future or if anyone poses a threat to our operations and personnel at the base, I will enforce the military’s presence to protect our interests.'

Responding to questions regarding Trump’s statements, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed that the President supports the Prime Minister’s position while maintaining that the United States retains the right to secure its assets.

Warren Stephens, the United States Ambassador to the UK, echoed the President's sentiments, acknowledging that while the ideal situation would involve the UK retaining full sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, this arrangement is the most advantageous available to successive British governments. He reinforced the US's right to protect its security interests on Diego Garcia if necessary.

The agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, which was announced in 2022, had previously received endorsement from US officials. However, tensions escalated last month when Trump described it as a 'total weakness', further stating that the UK's decision to relinquish control over strategically important land was 'an act of GREAT STUPIDITY'. Trump's remarks coincided with a wider international debate regarding his controversial intentions towards Greenland and were interpreted as an attempt to leverage pressure on the UK concerning its stance on Danish sovereignty.

In the wake of Trump's earlier criticisms, fears developed in Whitehall regarding the steadfastness of US support for the Chagos agreement. However, following a series of discussions, including two direct phone calls between Starmer and Trump, the understanding is that American support is intact.

A piece of legislation to ratify the Chagos Islands agreement is currently advancing through the UK Parliament but has faced delays due to past uncertainties surrounding the US position. Prime Minister Starmer maintains that the agreement is crucial for ensuring the ongoing functionality of the military base, particularly amid Mauritius's historical claims contesting British control over the islands.

The deal has faced substantial opposition domestically, with critics from the Conservative Party and Reform UK arguing that it undermines national security given Mauritius's growing ties with China. Dame Priti Patel, the Conservative shadow foreign secretary, expressed concerns regarding the perceived weaknesses in the arrangement, asserting, 'We have led the fight against this appalling surrender and we will continue fighting it to the end.'