Former UK Leaders Urged Trump to Halt Chagos Islands Transfer
Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, two former British prime ministers, have been reported to have lobbied US President Donald Trump to block the United Kingdom's plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. This development comes after Trump publicly cast doubt on the agreement earlier this week, describing it as a "big mistake" and urging Sir Keir Starmer not to proceed with the transfer.
Concerns Over Diego Garcia Military Base
The Chagos archipelago includes Diego Garcia, which hosts a critical joint UK-US military base. Trump's opposition appears linked to strategic military interests, particularly regarding potential operations against Iran. According to sources, Johnson, who has previously called the deal a "terrible, terrible idea," raised the issue with Trump on multiple occasions. Similarly, Truss discussed the matter with Trump during a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago resort last weekend, with reports indicating she was briefed on arguments against the agreement beforehand.
Volatile US Stance and International Law Implications
Trump's position on the Chagos deal has been notably unstable, shifting weekly and causing uncertainty in UK foreign policy. His recent reversal from earlier support is attributed to Britain's refusal to allow the US to use Diego Garcia or RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire for a potential military campaign against Iran. The UK government's stance is based on concerns over breaching international law, which holds that providing support with knowledge of wrongful acts carries legal risks. Under UK law, use of these bases for military operations requires prior government consent and compliance with international legal interpretations.
Geopolitical Tensions and Diplomatic Moves
Amid these revelations, the US is considering fresh military action against Iran, with a second warship deployed to the region. Trump has suggested on his Truth Social platform that using Diego Garcia and Fairford might be necessary to counter threats from what he termed a "highly unstable and dangerous regime." Concurrently, UK Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper met with US counterpart Marco Rubio in Washington to discuss defence, security, and trade cooperation, with the Chagos deal expected to be a key topic. Representatives for Truss declined to comment, and Johnson's office has been contacted for a response.
