Trump advises Starmer against ceding Chagos Islands

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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