Trump's Dramatic Third U-Turn on Chagos Islands Deal
In a stunning reversal, former US President Donald Trump has publicly lambasted UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over plans to lease the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. This marks Trump's third significant policy shift on the issue, coming just one day after his administration had officially backed the agreement.
"A Big Mistake" and "A Blight"
Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump warned Starmer that entering into a 100-year lease with Mauritius would be "a big mistake" and create "a blight on our Great Ally." The Chagos Islands are home to the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base, jointly operated by the United States and United Kingdom.
"Prime minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year lease," Trump wrote. "This land should not be taken away from the UK and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally."
Rapid Policy Reversals
The timeline of Trump's changing positions reveals remarkable inconsistency:
- Last month, Trump accused Starmer of "great stupidity" for ceding control of the islands
- Earlier this month, he described the agreement as "the best" the Labour leader could achieve
- On Tuesday, his administration gave official backing to the UK's plan
- On Wednesday, he completely reversed course with his Truth Social post
This represents Trump's third major U-turn on the Chagos Islands agreement since discussions began. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed that Trump's social media posts should be considered official administration policy, stating: "When you see it on Truth Social, you know it's directly from President Trump."
Strategic Concerns and Geopolitical Implications
Trump expressed particular concern about maintaining control of Diego Garcia for potential military operations, specifically mentioning Iran's nuclear programme. He warned that if Iran refused to limit its nuclear ambitions, the United States might need to use the airbase to "eradicate a potential attack" that could target the United Kingdom and other allied nations.
The US leader also questioned the legitimacy of Chagossian claims to their ancestral homeland, describing them as "fictitious in nature" and referring to "entities never known of before."
The UK Government's Position
Sir Keir Starmer's government maintains that the agreement with Mauritius is essential for securing the long-term future of the Diego Garcia military base. The proposed deal would see the UK retain control of the island through a 99-year lease to Mauritius, while formally transferring sovereignty.
Ministers had previously secured US backing for this arrangement last year, with Trump initially telling Starmer he had "a feeling it's going to work out very well." The rapid policy shifts have created uncertainty about the future of this strategically important agreement and the UK-US relationship regarding military cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
