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Trump Reasserts Opposition to UK Chagos Islands Proposal, Urges Stronger Strategic Alignment
Former US president signals renewed resistance to British plan over Indian Ocean territory, emphasising security and sovereignty concerns
Donald Trump has once again voiced opposition to the United Kingdom’s proposed arrangement concerning the Chagos Islands, underscoring what he described as the need to safeguard long-term strategic interests in the Indian Ocean.
The former US president indicated that the British government’s plan — which centres on a negotiated settlement regarding sovereignty of the archipelago while maintaining continued Western military access — raises serious geopolitical considerations.
Trump stressed the importance of preserving the integrity and operational security of the joint US-UK military facility on Diego Garcia, a critical base that has long played a central role in projecting stability and deterrence across the Indo-Pacific region.
Under the UK’s proposal, sovereignty of the Chagos Islands would be transferred to Mauritius following international legal and diplomatic pressure, while allowing for the continued operation of the military base under a long-term lease arrangement.
British officials have argued that the agreement would resolve a longstanding dispute while maintaining strategic cooperation with the United States.
Trump, however, signalled that any change in sovereignty must be approached with extreme caution.
He emphasised that Diego Garcia remains vital to American national security and broader Western defence architecture, particularly amid intensifying global competition and evolving maritime security challenges.
The Chagos Islands have been at the centre of a protracted dispute for decades.
The UK separated the territory from Mauritius prior to Mauritian independence in the 1960s and later established the joint military base.
In recent years, international legal bodies have questioned Britain’s continued administration of the territory, prompting negotiations with Mauritius.
While the current US administration has maintained close coordination with London on the matter, Trump’s renewed intervention highlights the domestic political dimension of foreign policy debates in Washington.
His comments reflect a broader emphasis on ensuring that allied agreements do not compromise American strategic advantage.
British officials have reiterated that any agreement would protect the long-term future of the Diego Garcia facility and preserve robust security cooperation with Washington.
Discussions between London and Port Louis remain ongoing, with further details expected as negotiations progress.
The former US president indicated that the British government’s plan — which centres on a negotiated settlement regarding sovereignty of the archipelago while maintaining continued Western military access — raises serious geopolitical considerations.
Trump stressed the importance of preserving the integrity and operational security of the joint US-UK military facility on Diego Garcia, a critical base that has long played a central role in projecting stability and deterrence across the Indo-Pacific region.
Under the UK’s proposal, sovereignty of the Chagos Islands would be transferred to Mauritius following international legal and diplomatic pressure, while allowing for the continued operation of the military base under a long-term lease arrangement.
British officials have argued that the agreement would resolve a longstanding dispute while maintaining strategic cooperation with the United States.
Trump, however, signalled that any change in sovereignty must be approached with extreme caution.
He emphasised that Diego Garcia remains vital to American national security and broader Western defence architecture, particularly amid intensifying global competition and evolving maritime security challenges.
The Chagos Islands have been at the centre of a protracted dispute for decades.
The UK separated the territory from Mauritius prior to Mauritian independence in the 1960s and later established the joint military base.
In recent years, international legal bodies have questioned Britain’s continued administration of the territory, prompting negotiations with Mauritius.
While the current US administration has maintained close coordination with London on the matter, Trump’s renewed intervention highlights the domestic political dimension of foreign policy debates in Washington.
His comments reflect a broader emphasis on ensuring that allied agreements do not compromise American strategic advantage.
British officials have reiterated that any agreement would protect the long-term future of the Diego Garcia facility and preserve robust security cooperation with Washington.
Discussions between London and Port Louis remain ongoing, with further details expected as negotiations progress.
