The United States has formally endorsed the United Kingdom’s landmark agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while securing a long-term lease for the strategic military installation on Diego Garcia. This development follows weeks of diplomatic uncertainty after former President Donald Trump’s contradictory statements regarding the arrangement.
In a significant diplomatic reversal, Trump publicly expressed support for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s negotiated settlement, characterizing it as “the best he could make” during their recent discussions. This endorsement came as a relief to British officials who had grown concerned when Trump previously denounced the agreement as an “act of great stupidity” and “total weakness” last month.
The complex arrangement, initially announced last year, facilitates the formal transfer of Chagos Islands sovereignty to Mauritius while guaranteeing continued UK and US military access to the Diego Garcia base through a 99-year leaseback provision. This joint UK-US facility serves as a critical strategic asset for both nations’ military operations in the Indian Ocean region.
Downing Street confirmed that both leaders “agreed on the importance” of maintaining the base’s operational security during their Thursday conversation. A spokeswoman emphasized that the two nations would “continue to work closely on the implementation of the deal,” signaling ongoing cooperation despite previous tensions.
Trump’s conditional support, communicated via his Truth Social platform, included a significant caveat: “If the lease deal, sometime in the future, ever falls apart, or anyone threatens or endangers US operations and forces at our base, I retain the right to militarily secure and reinforce the American presence in Diego Garcia.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified the administration’s position, stating that while Trump understands and supports Starmer’s position, the United States “reserves the right to protect our assets.” This sentiment was echoed by US Ambassador to the UK Warren Stephens, who acknowledged that while maintaining UK sovereignty would be the “ideal” outcome, the current arrangement represents the “best deal on the table.”
The agreement has faced substantial domestic criticism in the UK, particularly from Conservative and Reform UK parties who argue that Mauritius’s ties to China pose national security risks. Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel characterized Trump’s statement as recognizing “a critical weakness in the surrender deal” and pledged continued opposition.
A draft law to ratify the Chagos Islands agreement is currently progressing through Parliament, though the legislative process experienced delays following Trump’s previous critical comments. Prime Minister Starmer has consistently maintained that the arrangement is necessary to protect the base’s continued operation amid previous legal challenges from Mauritius regarding British sovereignty.