US President Donald Trump has signalled renewed support for the UK’s agreement to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while leasing back a strategically important military base, Downing Street has confirmed.
The endorsement follows a phone conversation on Thursday between Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during which both leaders agreed on the importance of securing the future of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.
In a statement, 10 Downing Street said the two leaders agreed the UK and United States would continue to work closely on implementing the deal, which allows Britain to lease the base for an initial period of 99 years.
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Trump later described the agreement as “the best he could make,” appearing to soften his earlier criticism of the plan. Just weeks ago, the US president had branded the deal an “act of great stupidity,” raising concerns in Whitehall that Washington could withdraw its backing.
Those remarks prompted urgent talks between UK and US officials to clarify the American position. The BBC understands the discussions included two direct calls between Trump and Starmer and have now concluded, with US support reaffirmed.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said his discussions with the prime minister had been “very productive.” However, he warned that if the lease arrangement were ever threatened, the US would reserve the right to protect its military interests on Diego Garcia.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the president’s position, telling reporters that Trump understood and supported Starmer’s stance, while stressing that the US would always defend its assets.
The deal, first announced last year, would see the UK formally transfer sovereignty of the islands while maintaining access to the airbase, which is considered vital to Western military operations in the Indo-Pacific region.
UK ministers argue the agreement is necessary to secure the long-term future of the base, amid legal challenges to British control of the territory. However, the plan has faced strong opposition from Conservative and Reform UK figures, who claim it risks national security and point to Mauritius’s diplomatic ties with China.
A draft law to ratify the agreement is currently before Parliament but has been delayed following Trump’s earlier outburst. Despite the criticism, the government insists the deal remains the most practical way to protect British and American defence interests in the region.
