Trump blasts Starmer for making a ‘big mistake’ with Chagos deal and tells PM to ‘remain strong in the face of wokeism’

Donald Trump criticized Sir Keir Starmer for making a ‘big mistake’ by handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

In an explosive post on Truth Social, the US president demanded that the British Prime Minister ‘not give away’ Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands.

He said the air base shared with the United States was vital for possible future air strikes on Iran if an agreement to resolve the nuclear dispute was not reached.

Trump’s comments are the latest in a series of comebacks from the US President on the Chagos Islands treaty, which Labor agreed to last year.

He had previously called it an act of ‘gross stupidity’ before giving his approval earlier this month.

Plans call for the UK to lease the base at Diego Garcia from Mauritius over the next century at a cost of £35bn.

On Tuesday, the US State Department said it ‘supports the UK’s decision to maintain its agreement with Mauritius on the Chagos archipelago’.

But in his post on Wednesday, Mr Trump said the leases were ‘no good’ and added that the base could be needed for an attack on Iran.

He said: ‘Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control of Diego Garcia for any reason by entering into a 100-Year lease at best.

‘These lands should not be taken from the United Kingdom and if this were allowed it would be a disaster for our Great Ally.

We will always be ready, willing and able to fight for the United Kingdom, but they must remain strong in the face of Wokeism and other problems put before them. Don’t give Diego Garcia away.’

Image: Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands

Trump’s full post reads: ‘I tell UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer that Leases are no good when it comes to Countries and that he has made a huge mistake by entering into a 100 Year Lease with the person who ‘claims’ the Rights, Title and Interest of Diego Garcia, strategically located in the Indian Ocean.

‘Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and strong one and has been for many years, but Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island due to claims from previously unknown entities. In our opinion, these are fictional.

‘If Iran decides not to make a deal, the United States may need to use Diego Garcia and the airspace at Fairford to ward off a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime. This attack could potentially also be made against the UK and other friendly countries. Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control of Diego Garcia for any reason by entering into a 100-Year lease at best.

‘These lands should not be taken from the United Kingdom and if this were allowed it would be a disaster for our Great Ally.

We will always be ready, willing and able to fight for the United Kingdom, but they must remain strong in the face of Wokeism and other problems put before them. DON’T GIVE DIEGO GARCIA!’

Last year Labor transferred the UK’s sovereignty over the Chagos to Mauritius; Critics called this a ‘betrayal’ of the British people.

The islands were bought by Britain for £3 million in 1968, but Mauritius argued that it had to give up the islands to gain independence from Britain.

Trump’s comments come after the Mail revealed that a close friend of Sir Keir Starmer shared an £8m bonus for his work in negotiating the ‘surrender’ deal.

Philippe Sands KC, who describes himself as the ‘great friend’ of the Prime Minister, pocketed his share of this amount while serving as Mauritius’ general legal counsel between 2010 and 2024.

During this time he also secured the controversial agreement that would see Britain return sovereignty to the strategically important archipelago, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, and lease the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years at an average annual cost of £101 million.

Professor Sands, a leading international human rights lawyer who was also close to Attorney-General Lord Hermer, led a number of legal teams tasked almost exclusively with fighting for the island to be ceded to Mauritius.

According to official documents, they were allocated at least £8,300,000 from the Mauritius state budget.

While the exact figure Professor Sands takes home is unknown, his role as chief counsel will see him take the biggest cut, according to an international lawyer, who said a large bonus could also be paid upon completion of the deal.

When asked how much he was paid, Sands admitted to the House of Lords Committee that he ‘didn’t know’ but that he ‘was paid like me in almost all my cases’. It was not done for charity.

This is breaking news; more to come