President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to scrap plans for a long-term lease arrangement involving the island Diego Garcia, contradicting his administration’s previous support and warning the U.S. may need the strategic base if talks with Iran collapse.
“Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
Britain has controlled the Chagos Islands, which includes Diego Garcia, since 1814. Mauritius has long argued Britain illegally split the island away during colonization. The U.K. is now planning to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius and maintain control of the base through a century-long lease.