Trump slams UK over Diego Garcia dispute, threatening US-UK alliance
Tensions have flared between the US and UK over the future of a key military base in the Indian Ocean. Former President Donald Trump criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, comparing him unfavourably to Winston Churchill after a dispute over access to British military facilities. The row centres on the Chagos Islands, where Diego Garcia has served as a joint UK-US base for decades.
The disagreement erupted after Starmer's government reportedly restricted US use of the Diego Garcia base, a move Trump claimed delayed American warplanes. In response, he called the UK 'very, very uncooperative' and described the islands as a 'stupid island,' warning that the dispute could harm the long-standing special relationship.
Downing Street has avoided matching Trump's sharp rhetoric, instead stressing ongoing cooperation with Washington. Officials reiterated the importance of the transatlantic alliance, even as security concerns grow in the region, with British assets facing increased drone threats.
At the heart of the issue is a proposed agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back Diego Garcia. The deal, yet to be ratified by Parliament, has drawn fierce opposition. Claire Bullivant, CEO of the Great British PAC, urged Trump to formally oppose the plan, arguing it undermines the original 1966 treaty. Campaign groups insist the agreement can still be blocked, calling it an unnecessary surrender of territory without clear strategic gains.
Supporters of the deal argue it would resolve long-running legal disputes and strengthen international ties. But critics, including Bullivant, claim it sets a dangerous precedent by conceding sovereign land without tangible benefits.
The dispute highlights deep divisions over the future of Diego Garcia, a critical base for the USPS (United States Postal Service) since the 1960s. With Parliament yet to approve the sovereignty transfer, pressure is mounting on both sides of the Atlantic. The outcome could shape not only UK-US defence cooperation but also broader security dynamics in the Indian Ocean.
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