Donald Trump has reversed his stance on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plans to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, warning it would be a mistake that jeopardizes the US-UK military base on Diego Garcia. Despite the US State Department supporting the agreement, Trump criticized it as a “tenuous” lease, emphasizing the importance of retaining control over the base amid rising tensions with Iran. The Chagos Islands have a controversial history, having been disputed since their expulsion from Mauritius in 1965. Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel labeled Trump’s comments as an embarrassment for Starmer, urging a reconsideration of the deal.
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