Trump approves Starmer’s Chagos deal despite calling it an ‘act of great stupidity’
Donald Trump has made a dramatic U-turn on Keir Starmer’s opposition to the controversial Chagos Islands deal, signaling his support just weeks after describing it as an act of “gross stupidity”.
His comments triggered a political storm that led the prime minister to accuse the US President of using the agreement to pressure him over Greenland.
But in new comments on the Truth Social platform, he described the deal as the “best deal” the Labor leader could have made.
The fierce row has erupted over Sir Keir’s plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a deal the government says is necessary to secure the future of the key UK-US Diego Garcia military base.
Ministers secured US support for the agreement last year. And in February the President told Sir Keir during a visit to the White House that he was “inclined to go along with your country” and “had a feeling that things would turn out very well”.
But in a move that sent shockwaves through Downing Street last month, the US president condemned it as “an act of great stupidity”.
Sir Keir, in turn, accused her of trying to pressure Britain to support American plans to take over Greenland.
Now using a post on the Truth Social platform, the President wrote that he had had “very productive discussions” with Sir Keir about the deal.
Under the plan, which will cost £35 billion over the next century, Britain will transfer sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, but will lease back the facility on the island of Diego Garcia.
Mr Trump said: “I understand that the deal Prime Minister Starmer has made is, in many people’s opinion, the best deal he could have made.
“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.
“Let it be known that I will never allow our presence at such an important Base to be undermined or threatened by false claims or environmental nonsense.”
Sir Keir withdrew the Chagos Islands bill in the face of a shocked response from the US, days after Donald Trump’s outburst.
But the President’s latest move allows him to return to the House of Lords.
This is not the only escalation Trump has made towards the UK in recent weeks.
He also walked back insults against British soldiers in Afghanistan after sparking widespread outrage over false claims he made about NATO allies.
The US president initially claimed that they avoided the front lines during the war in Afghanistan.
Sir Keir Starmer delivered the comments directly to the US president during a phone call, and hours later Trump paid tribute to the “great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom”.
The Prime Minister joined Prince Harry, veterans and politicians from across the political spectrum in condemning Mr Trump’s claims, with Sir Keir describing them as “appalling” and demanding an apology.
Critics had noted both the number of non-U.S. coalition deaths in Afghanistan and Mr. Trump’s avoidance of military service in Vietnam.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister spoke to the President and “agreed on the importance of the agreement to secure the joint UK-US base in Diego Garcia, which is vital to our shared security interests. They agreed that the UK and US will continue to work closely on the implementation of the agreement.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday that Trump supported Sir Keir’s plans.
Ms Leavitt said: “He [Trump] He spoke directly to Prime Minister Starmer. He understands and supports Prime Minister Starmer’s position, but as the president stated in this statement, of course the United States reserves the right to protect our assets.
“Of course, we still have a military base on the island of Diego Garcia, and so the President reiterated to the prime minister and all of you that the United States will never waive, if necessary, the protection of our assets anywhere in the world, including Diego Garcia, and he supports the prime minister’s decision.”
The Conservative Party said they would continue to fight the Chagos agreement “to the end”.
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “Keir Starmer and Peter Mandelson’s disgraceful Chagos Capitulation remains an absolutely terrible deal for Britain.
“Handing over Britain’s sovereign territory and £35bn of taxpayers’ money to an ally of China is, in the President’s own words, an act of utter weakness.
“The President’s statement today recognizes a critical weakness in the Surrender agreement: The lease could be broken, placing our national security and the security of our allies in even greater doubt. The agreement is clearly a threat to our national security and a major strategic mistake.”
“The view of the Conservative Party has not changed. We have led the fight against this appalling capitulation and will continue to the end.”
