Trump's Latest Volley: Starmer's Chagos Deal a 'Big Mistake'
In a dramatic reversal, former US President Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the Chagos Islands agreement, warning that entering a 100-year lease for Diego Garcia constitutes a "big mistake". This latest outburst marks another sharp U-turn in Trump's position on the deal, which has seen him oscillate between support and condemnation multiple times over the past year.
The Social Media Broadside
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to voice his opposition, stating: "I have been telling prime minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that leases are no good when it comes to countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease." The post came just hours after the US government had announced its support for the UK's agreement with Mauritius, adding to the confusion surrounding Washington's official stance.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt subsequently clarified that Trump's social media declaration should be "taken as the policy of the Trump administration," underscoring the president's personal influence over diplomatic messaging. The UK Foreign Office, however, defended the arrangement, describing it as "crucial" to national security.
Strategic Stakes and Financial Details
The Chagos Islands deal, negotiated last year, involves the UK paying £35 billion over the next century to retain control of Diego Garcia under a 99-year lease to Mauritius. This strategic atoll hosts a critical joint US-UK military base, which Trump highlighted as essential for potential operations against Iran. He warned that losing control could undermine both nations' security interests.
Trump elaborated in his statement: "Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia... in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime." He urged Starmer not to "lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia," framing the lease as a tenuous arrangement that jeopardises British sovereignty.
A History of Flip-Flops
This incident is merely the latest in a series of volatile position changes by Trump regarding the Chagos agreement. In February 2025, he indicated support during an Oval Office meeting with Starmer, suggesting the deal would "work out very well." By May, his administration welcomed the agreement through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing the strategic importance of Diego Garcia.
However, in January 2026, Trump abruptly branded the deal an "act of great stupidity," linking it to his ambitions to annex Greenland. Weeks later, he reversed course again, calling it "the best" Starmer could achieve. This pattern of whipsawing statements has created significant uncertainty in transatlantic relations.
Political Reactions and Lobbying Efforts
The shadow foreign secretary, Dame Priti Patel, seized on Trump's comments as "utter humiliation" for Starmer, accusing the prime minister of undermining the UK's relationship with its "most important ally." Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage backed Trump's stance, urging Starmer to cancel what he termed "the worst deal in British history."
Lobbying efforts appear to have influenced Trump's vacillations. Last week, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith met with key White House and national security officials to discuss the Chagos issue. Trump's invocation of "wokeism" in his latest statement suggests ideological motivations, potentially aligning the handover to Mauritius with progressive calls for reparations—a comparison likely to resonate with his political base.
Broader Implications and Analysis
Analysts note that Trump's mercurial stance reflects broader tensions within his administration's foreign policy approach. His simultaneous push to annex Greenland—a sovereign territory of NATO ally Denmark—highlights a pattern of challenging international norms. Explanations from Downing Street based on international law have reportedly fallen flat with Trump, who prioritises transactional diplomacy over legal frameworks.
Starmer has previously accused Trump of using the Chagos issue as leverage to pressure the UK on Greenland, stating last month: "He deployed those words yesterday for the express purpose of putting pressure on me and Britain in relation to my values and principles on the future of Greenland." The prime minister affirmed he would "not yield" on this position, setting the stage for continued diplomatic friction.
As the UK navigates this complex agreement, the volatility of Trump's position underscores the challenges of maintaining stable alliances in an era of unpredictable leadership. The Chagos Islands, with their fraught history of colonial administration and forced displacement of Chagossians, remain a flashpoint in both domestic politics and international relations.
