Trump Revises Position on Chagos Islands Sovereignty Following Discussion with UK Prime Minister
In a notable shift of diplomatic tone, former US President Donald Trump has significantly watered down his previous harsh criticism of the United Kingdom's arrangement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. This change follows what has been described as a 'very productive' telephone conversation between Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday.
From 'Great Stupidity' to Pragmatic Acceptance
Just last month, Trump had publicly lambasted the agreement, characterising the cession of the British Indian Ocean Territory as an 'act of great stupidity'. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he had linked the issue to broader national security concerns, even suggesting it reinforced arguments for the United States to acquire Greenland. He asserted at the time that the move demonstrated 'total weakness' that would be noted by global adversaries like China and Russia.
However, his latest communication presents a markedly different perspective. After his discussion with Prime Minister Starmer, Trump acknowledged the strategic importance of the Diego Garcia military base, which is situated on the largest island in the archipelago. He stated that the base is 'strategically situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean and, therefore, of great importance to the National Security of the United States'.
The Nuances of the Revised UK-US Stance
The core of the agreement involves Britain ceding overall control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while simultaneously securing a 99-year lease for Diego Garcia. This lease is designed to ensure the continued operation of the critical joint US-UK military installation. Trump's new position appears to accept this framework, with him noting, 'I understand that the deal Prime Minister Starmer has made, according to many, the best he could make.'
Nevertheless, his statement included a firm caveat. Trump emphasised that he retains the right to 'Militarily secure and reinforce the American presence' on Diego Garcia should the lease agreement ever falter or if US operations are threatened. He explicitly warned against any attempts to undermine the base with what he termed 'fake claims or environmental nonsense'.
Political Reactions and Broader Implications
Downing Street confirmed the call, with a spokesperson highlighting that both leaders 'agreed on the importance of the deal to secure the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia, which remains vital to shared security interests'. They further committed to close cooperation on implementing the arrangement.
The political response within the UK has been divided. The Conservative party, along with Reform UK, has maintained strong opposition to the sovereignty transfer. Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel seized on Trump's conditional language, arguing it exposed a 'critical weakness' in the agreement. She stated, 'The deal is clearly a threat to our national security and is a massive strategic blunder. We have led the fight against this appalling surrender and we will continue fighting it to the end.'
This diplomatic episode occurs against a backdrop of Trump also moderating his previously aggressive stance on Greenland. Following discussions with NATO officials, he recently announced a 'framework of a future deal' regarding the territory, stepping back from earlier threats of acquisition. The Chagos Islands comments suggest a pattern of initial strong rhetoric followed by a more negotiated, pragmatic position on complex international sovereignty issues.
