U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to the United Kingdom not to relinquish control of the Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, stressing its importance should the United States launch operations against Iran.
Trump made the remarks shortly after the US State Department reiterated its support for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s agreement to return the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.
Under the agreement, Britain will pay a 100-year lease to maintain the jointly operated US-UK strategic base at Diego Garcia.
AFP cited on Thursday the Trump stating that Starmer “should not lose control for any reason” over Diego Garcia through what he described as a “fragile” century-long lease.
He added, “This land should not be taken from the United Kingdom and if it is allowed, it will tarnish one of our great allies. We are always ready to defend the UK, but they must remain steadfast against ‘wokeism’ and other challenges. DO NOT HAND OVER DIEGO GARCIA!”
In parallel, Trump’s representatives have engaged in renewed negotiations with Iran, demanding significant concessions on issues including the country’s nuclear programme.
Trump expressed concern over a potential Iranian attack, noting Tehran’s close opposition to both the United States and Israel, the latter of which conducted a large-scale bombing campaign against Iran last June.
He indicated that if Iran refuses to reach an agreement, the US may need to rely on Diego Garcia and the Fairford airbase to pre-empt attacks by a highly unstable and dangerous regime. Trump also highlighted the risk of potential strikes against the UK and other allied nations.
Britain has retained control of the Chagos Archipelago since Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s. However, thousands of island residents were forcibly removed and have since pursued legal action seeking compensation. - February 19, 2026
