Donald Trump tells Keir Starmer ‘do not give away Diego Garcia’ in fresh attack on Chagos Islands deal

Trump Renews Criticism of UK’s Chagos Islands Deal

Thursday 19 February 2026 | 02:22 UK

US President Donald Trump has again criticised the UK’s deal to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, warning Prime Minister Keir Starmer that he is “making a big mistake”.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump urged the UK not to “give away” Diego Garcia, home to a key joint US-UK military base. His comments mark another shift in tone, coming just a day after his administration publicly backed the agreement.

“Do Not Give Away Diego Garcia”

Diego Garcia — the largest island in the Chagos archipelago — hosts a strategically important joint military facility operated by the UK and US.

Under the proposed arrangement, the UK would cede sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while retaining control of Diego Garcia through a 99-year lease.

Mr Trump wrote that while US-UK relations remain strong, Sir Keir is “losing control of this important Island” and warned against entering what he described as a “tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease”.

He added: “DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!”

US Position Appears to Shift Again

The president’s remarks contrast sharply with the position expressed earlier this week by the United States Department of State, which said on Tuesday that the United States supports the UK’s agreement with Mauritius regarding the Chagos archipelago.

When asked whether Mr Trump’s latest post represented a policy change, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “The post should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration — it’s coming straight from the horse’s mouth.”

Mr Trump has previously alternated between criticising and endorsing the deal. In January, he labelled it an “act of total weakness”, but following a call with Sir Keir on 5 February, he described it as “the best [Sir Keir] could make”. He had also backed the deal last year.

UK Government Defends Agreement

A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said the agreement is “crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies” and insisted it guarantees the long-term future of the Diego Garcia base.

The Chagos Islands, an overseas territory of the UK in the Indian Ocean, have been the subject of a long-running sovereignty dispute. After losing an international court case, the UK agreed to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while securing continued military access.

Political Row in Westminster

The issue has become increasingly contentious in UK politics.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed Mr Trump’s latest comments, saying: “Chagos is a strategic asset. If our closest ally is saying this, the PM should listen. It’s time to kill this terrible deal.”

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey criticised Mr Trump’s changing stance, arguing that Britain “can’t rely on the US while Trump is in the White House.”

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also called for the deal to be cancelled, describing it as “the worst deal in British history”.

Meanwhile, the House of Lords last month inflicted four defeats on the government over details of the lease and payments to Mauritius. The government subsequently withdrew the bill from the Lords and has yet to reschedule it.

With Parliament still considering the legislation, and Washington’s position appearing fluid, the future of the Chagos Islands deal remains politically sensitive on both sides of the Atlantic.