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President Donald Trump warned that the United States could use military force to secure the Diego Garcia air base on the Chagos Islands if any future agreement threatens access to the joint US-UK facility.
Trump made the comments Thursday in a Truth Social post while also signaling his willingness to overcome tensions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after what he described as “very productive discussions” over the Indian Ocean base.
Emphasizing the strategic importance of the base, Trump said Diego Garcia's role was essential to US national security.
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Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago and home to a major US military base in the middle of the Indian Ocean, was leased to the United Kingdom in 1966. (Reuters)
“It is the site of a major American military base, strategically located in the middle of the Indian Ocean and therefore of great importance to the national security of the United States,” Trump wrote.
Trump also acknowledged that the United Kingdom reached what he called “the best deal it could do” under the controversial deal to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius and lease Diego Garcia for at least 99 years.
“However, if the leasing agreement, at any time in the future, ever falls apart, or anyone threatens or endangers American operations and forces at our base, I retain the right to secure and militarily reinforce the American presence in Diego Garcia,” Trump warned.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Donald Trump are seeking to overcome tensions over the Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos Islands. (Reuters/Suzanne Plunkett/Pool)
“Let it be known that I will never allow our presence on a base as important as this to be undermined or threatened by false claims or environmental nonsense,” he added.
The comments marked a slight change in tone from Trump, who in January criticized the UK-Mauritius deal as an “act of great stupidity” and an “act of utter weakness”, accusing Britain of handing over a critical military asset.
Diego Garcia serves as a hub for long-range bombers, logistics, intelligence gathering and military communications throughout the Middle East, Indo-Pacific and Africa, and is home to around 2,500 US military and civilian personnel.
The island base has been used for long-range US operations, such as in Afghanistan and Yemen.
According to Reuters, Downing Street had confirmed that Trump and Starmer discussed Diego Garcia during a recent call and agreed to safeguard the base's continued operation.
UK REOPENS CHAGOS ISLANDS WITH US AFTER TRUMP'S CRITICISM OF DEAL: REPORTS
Diego García is a strategic base in the Indian Ocean that houses 2,500 US military personnel. (Reuters)
“As for Diego Garcia, and the agreement the UK has secured to maintain control of the US-British military base to protect national security, leaders recognized its strategic importance,” a No. 10 spokeswoman said.
“The leaders agreed that their governments would continue to work closely to ensure the future operation of the base and would speak again soon.”
Under the deal, British taxpayers are expected to pay approximately £35 billion. [$47B] over the next century, including annual payments of around £160 million [$216M] to Mauritius, according to public estimates.
Britain also agreed to approximately £3 billion [$4 billion] in compensation during the term of the agreement, with the option to extend the lease for an additional 50 years.
The deal has also drawn criticism from Britain's Conservative Party, which argues it weakens the UK's strategic position and risks undermining long-standing security ties with the United States.
TRUMP SALUTES 'GREAT AND VERY BRAVE' BRITISH SOLDIERS AFTER CREATING NATO ALLIES' SERVICE IN AFGHANISTAN
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference in London. (Thomas Krych/Pool via Reuters)
Mauritius has said its sovereignty over the islands is “unequivocally recognized” under international law and has called for swift implementation of the agreement.
As Fox News Digital previously reported, a Downing Street spokesperson also said in January that the UK is continuing its efforts to “allay any concerns” in Washington.
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“We will continue to engage with the United States on this important matter and the importance of the agreement to secure the interests of the United States and the United Kingdom,” the spokesperson said in
Fox News Digital has contacted the White House and Downing Street for comment.
