Sir Keir Starmer has asserted that security services in the US support the UK’s Chagos deal, despite Donald Trump’s apparent cooling on the matter, reports BritPanorama.
The Prime Minister refrained from confirming whether President Trump understands the specifics of the agreement. Last week, Trump described the proposed transfer of the Chagos Islands to China-friendly Mauritius as “the greatest act of stupidity” and questioned why the UK “needed the money”, although leasing back a US-UK military base on Diego Garcia will cost the UK billions.
Starmer remarked, “When the Trump administration came in, we paused for three months to give them time to consider the Chagos deal, which they did at agency level. Once they’d done that, they were very clear in their pronouncements about the fact that they supported the deal.”
He emphasised that the issue pertains to security and intelligence, noting that a review was conducted at the agency level in the US. Additionally, the UK is obligated to pay Mauritius billions as part of the negotiations, with the Conservative Party seeking to obstruct the deal via delays in the House of Lords.
Trump’s earlier statements raised further questions about the strategic implications of relinquishing the territory, given its significance in the Indian Ocean region.
The ongoing negotiations highlight the complex interplay between UK security interests and international diplomacy.
