Trump Opposes UK-Mauritius Diego Garcia Lease, Cites Potential Need for Iran Contingency Operations
President Trump has publicly opposed the UK-Mauritius 99-year lease of Diego Garcia, warning Prime Minister Starmer the arrangement risks undermining US access to this key Indian Ocean base.
INDIAN OCEAN — President Donald Trump has publicly criticized the United Kingdom’s agreement to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius while retaining a 99-year lease and full defense rights on Diego Garcia.
Trump described the arrangement as a “big mistake” in a Truth Social post dated February 18 and explicitly linked the base’s future utility to a scenario in which Iran refuses a nuclear deal.
The United Kingdom maintains operational control and security responsibility for Diego Garcia under the lease framework, which supports long-range air and naval operations across the Indo-Pacific and Persian Gulf.
The State Department responded the same day, reiterating that diplomacy remains the preferred path while noting Iran would be wise to reach an agreement.
Key Developments in the Diego Garcia Dispute
The UK-Mauritius agreement transfers sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius except for Diego Garcia, where Britain retains a 99-year lease with complete operational and defense authority.
Trump’s February 18 statement frames the lease as potentially vulnerable and directly ties the base to Iran contingencies, stating it “may be necessary for the United States to use” along with supporting facilities.
No formal UK response to Trump’s latest intervention has been issued beyond prior assurances of retained control. Mauritius has welcomed the deal as resolving long-standing sovereignty claims.
Chagos Sovereignty Transition Timeline
May 22: UK and Mauritius sign agreement on Chagos Archipelago sovereignty transfer with 99-year Diego Garcia lease provisions.
February 17: US State Department issues formal support for the UK-Mauritius deal.
February 18: President Trump posts criticism on Truth Social linking lease concerns to potential Iran contingencies.
Assessment: The sequence reflects ongoing implementation of a bilateral pact amid renewed US executive scrutiny. Retained UK operational rights remain the core stabilizing element for joint base functions.
