Trump launches new blistering assault on Starmer over Diego Garcia | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Donald Trump has launched a rare assault on Sir Keir Starmer, warning the Prime Minister he’s making “a big mistake” and demanding the Chagos deal is torn up. The US President took to the social media platform Truth Social to blast the controversial settlement, telling Sir Keir: “DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!” Mr Trump warned: “Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before. In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature.” The intervention piles strain on Sir Keir over his resolution handy sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius underneath a 99-year lease for the Diego Garcia army base.

Mr Trump additionally mentioned in his message: “I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that Leases are no good when it comes to Countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease with whoever it is that is ‘claiming’ Right, Title, and Interest to Diego Garcia.” The President mentioned Diego Garcia, strategically situated within the Indian Ocean, might be essential if America must take army motion in opposition to Iran. He warned: “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.”

Mr Trump added the risk might be “an attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly Countries.” Despite the stark warning about Britain’s safety, the President insisted: “Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years.”

But he issued a dire prediction concerning the Chagos deal, saying: “This land should not be taken away from the U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally.” Mr Trump concluded saying that the US “will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the U.K., but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them.”

The extraordinary intervention comes because the Chagos deal faces mounting opposition at residence and overseas. The Conservatives have branded it a “catastrophic surrender” that fingers a strategic army asset near a Chinese ally whereas costing British taxpayers billions.

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Sir Keir was urged to see sense and scrap the “appalling” deal altogether, which noticed the nation signing a £3.4bn settlement in May. The deal would see the UK retaining management of the diego Garcia army base, alongside the US, whereas leaving the islands to Mauritius.

Speaking on-line, the Tories mentioned Trump “was right” with Leader Kemi Badenoch saying the deal was “an act of great stupidity” and the huge fee to Mauritius “complete self-sabotage.”

She added: “Chagos is a strategic asset. If our closest ally is saying this, the PM should listen. It’s time to kill this terrible deal.”

Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel mentioned: “President Trump has once again publicly rebuked Keir Starmer and his Government over their ill-judged, unnecessary and expensive Chagos Surrender. This is an utter humiliation for Starmer.

“It’s time Starmer lastly noticed sense, u-turned and scrapped this appalling deal altogether. Giving up British sovereign territory to an ally of China and paying for the privilege is irresponsible and reckless and is clearly undermining our relationship with our most necessary ally.

“While Starmer, Labour and their leftie lawyer friends threaten to undermine our security and defence, the Conservatives will keep fighting against the Chagos Surrender for as long as it takes.”

Mr Trump’s warning that the claimants to Diego Garcia are “fictitious in nature” echoes considerations raised by critics that Mauritius has no reliable historic declare to the islands.

The Chagos Islands have been separated from Mauritius earlier than it gained independence, and a few Chagossians oppose the islands being handed to Mauritius fairly than being allowed to return underneath British sovereignty.

Mr Trump’s public rebuke of Sir Keir marks a big escalation in worldwide strain over the deal and raises questions on whether or not it will probably proceed with out full American help.

It additionally comes simply hours after the US Department of State mentioned it “supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago”.

In January, Mr Trump had already attacked the Chagos deal in a distinct Truth Social put up, saying the transfer as an “act of great stupidity” – months after he and senior US officers endorsed it.

A FCDO spokesperson mentioned: “The deal to secure the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia military is crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe. The agreement we have reached is the only way to guarantee the long-term future of this vital military base.”