Trump Reverses Support for Chagos Islands Deal After UK Blocks Base Use

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Washington : Donald Trump has pulled back his earlier support for a key defence agreement involving the Chagos Islands, a move that reflects rising tensions over potential strikes on Iran and military access. Trump’s abrupt policy reversal has added a new layer of strain to relations between the United States and Keir Starmer’s government in London.

At the heart of the dispute is the joint Diego Garcia military base, a strategically positioned facility in the Indian Ocean. Under a 2025 agreement, the UK planned to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while maintaining a long-term lease for the base. Trump had at times voiced support for that arrangement, but in recent days he has branded it a “big mistake” and warned against relinquishing control.

The shift in Trump’s stance comes after British authorities declined to grant American forces access to UK airbases including Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford for potential use in operations against Iran should nuclear talks break down. London has been cautious, citing legal concerns and international obligations that could attach liability for offensive military actions.

In posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump linked the dispute directly to geopolitical risks involving Tehran, suggesting that if Iran fails to agree to terms on its nuclear program, the U.S. might need to rely on facilities like Diego Garcia for contingency operations. Officials in the UK see Washington’s attempt to leverage the base access issue as a key reason for Trump’s latest criticism of the Chagos deal.

The disagreement reflects broader friction within the US-UK partnership at a time of escalating tensions in the Middle East. While the United States Department of State has publicly backed the long-term lease deal with Mauritius, Trump’s comments have injected uncertainty into its ratification and implementation in London’s Parliament.

The episode underscores the delicate balance between legal restraints on allied participation in military action and strategic demands posed by a potentially volatile situation with Iran. With negotiations ongoing and military deployments increasing across the region, diplomatic relationships between key Western allies are being tested in unexpected ways.