Trump Urges UK Leader: Never Allow Diego Garcia to Be Given Away
President Donald Trump has warned British Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to relinquish control of Diego Garcia, a strategically vital Indian Ocean island housing a key U.S.-British military base critical for Western operations across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
In a Wednesday Truth Social post, Trump labeled a proposed 100-year lease agreement for the territory as “a big mistake” that could weaken Western security. He accused Starmer of “losing control” of Diego Garcia through claims by “entities never known of before,” which he described as “fictitious.”
The island, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, has served as a launch point for U.S. military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan and functions as a linchpin in deterring adversaries including Iran and China. Trump noted that renewed tensions with Iran over nuclear ambitions and regional aggression have intensified his warning: if Tehran “decides not to make a Deal,” the United States may need Diego Garcia—along with RAF Fairford in the U.K.—to counter potential attacks by what he termed “a highly unstable and dangerous Regime.”
Trump reiterated: “Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia. This land should not be taken away from the U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally.”
The island has faced international disputes since a 2019 International Court of Justice advisory opinion suggested the U.K. transfer control of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius. British officials have endured diplomatic pressure over its future.
Security experts warn that any change in sovereignty could disrupt U.S. military access and undermine Western deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. Trump framed the issue as part of a broader fight against “Wokeism” and other forces he says weaken Western resolve, stating: “We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the U.K.” His final message was blunt: “DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA.”
