Trump says US retains right to militarily secure Diego Garcia base operations if needed
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President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could use military force to secure the Diego Garcia air base in the Chagos Islands if any future deal threatens access to the joint US-UK facility.
Trump made the comments in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, also signaling that he was willing to ease tensions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over what he described as “very productive discussions” over the Indian Ocean base.
Emphasizing the strategic importance of the base, Trump said that Diego Garcia’s role is vital for the national security of the United States.
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Diego Garcia, the largest island of the Chagos archipelago and home to a large US military base in the middle of the Indian Ocean, was leased from England in 1966. (Reuters)
“This is the site of a major US 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 Britain had made what he called “the best deal it could have made” under the controversial agreement that would see it lease back Diego Garcia for at least 99 years while ceding sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius.
“However, if at some time in the future the lease breaks down or anyone threatens or endangers U.S. operations and forces at our base, I reserve the right to militarily secure and strengthen the American presence in Diego Garcia,” Trump warned.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Donald Trump are trying to ease tensions over the Diego Garcia military base in the Chagos Islands. (Reuters/Suzanne Plunkett/Pool)
“Let it be known that I will never allow our existence on such an important base to be undermined or threatened by false claims or environmental nonsense.”
The comments marked a slight change in tone from Trump, who in January criticized the UK-Mauritius deal as “an act of gross stupidity” and “an act of complete weakness” and accused Britain of surrendering a critical military asset.
Diego Garcia serves as a hub for long-range bombers, logistics, intelligence gathering and military communications in the Middle East, Indo-Pacific and Africa and is home to approximately 2,500 U.S., military and civilian personnel.
The island base was used for long-range US operations such as Afghanistan and Yemen.
Accordingly ReutersDowning Street confirmed that Trump and Starmer discussed Diego Garcia during a recent call and agreed to preserve the ongoing operation of the base.
THE UK REOPENED SHAGOS ISLANDS TALKS WITH US AFTER TRUMP’S CRITICISM OF THE DEAL: REPORTS
Diego Garcia is a strategic Indian Ocean base that hosts 2,500 US military personnel. (Reuters)
“Going back to Diego Garcia and the UK’s agreement to maintain control of the US-UK military base to protect national security, leaders understood the strategic importance of this,” a No 10 spokesman said.
“The leaders agreed that their governments will continue to work closely to ensure the future operation of the base and will speak again soon.”
British taxpayers expected to pay around £35bn under deal [$47B] Including annual payments of around £160 million over the next century [$216M] To Mauritius, according to public estimates.
The UK has also reached a settlement worth around £3 billion. [$4 billion] As compensation for the life of the agreement, with the option to extend the lease for a further 50 years.
The deal was also criticized by Britain’s Conservative Party, which argued that the agreement weakened Britain’s strategic position and risked undermining long-standing security ties with the United States.
TRUMP SALUTES ‘GREAT AND VERY BRAVE’ British SOLDIERS AFTER BELIEVING NATO ALLIES’ SERVICES TO AFGHANISTAN
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks at a press conference in London. (Thomas Krych/Pool via Reuters)
Mauritius said its sovereignty over the islands was “absolutely recognized” under international law and called for rapid implementation of the agreement.
As previously reported by Fox News Digital, a Downing Street spokesman also said in January that the UK was continuing its efforts to “address any concerns” in Washington.
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“We will continue to engage with the United States on this important issue and the importance of the agreement to secure the interests of the United States and the United Kingdom,” the spokesman said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and Downing Street for comment.
