Published : 19 Feb 2026, 07:36 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 03:22 PM
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer was making a big mistake by entering into a lease of the US-UK air base on Diego Garcia.
"Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Trump also said it may be necessary for the US to use Diego Garcia, and an airfield located in Fairford, in order to "eradicate a potential attack" by Iran if Tehran decides not to make a deal resolving their longstanding nuclear dispute.
Under a 2025 agreement, Britain will transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining control of the strategically important US-UK air base on Diego Garcia under a 99-year lease.
