In a surprising turn of events, former US President Donald Trump has abruptly withdrawn his support for the UK’s deal to hand over the Chagos Islands, including the crucial Diego Garcia airbase, to Mauritius. This U-turn has left the British government reeling, as the agreement was seen as a key diplomatic victory for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Just last year, I was present in the Oval Office when Trump initially gave his blessing to the plan, despite lobbying from figures like Nigel Farage to veto the deal. The president had stated, “I have a feeling it is going to work out very well. I think we will be inclined to go along with your country.” This paved the way for Starmer to secure the agreement, which has been bogged down in parliament due to concerns over the £30 billion cost to UK taxpayers and the fate of the Chagossian people.
However, Trump has now dramatically reversed his position, labelling the deal as an “act of great stupidity” that will have stunned Downing Street. The former president’s change of heart appears to be linked to his growing obsession with gaining control of Greenland, a territory belonging to Denmark. Trump argues that the same international law logic used to justify the Chagos handover to Mauritius can be applied to Denmark’s ownership of Greenland, a prospect he is keen to exploit.
This latest development suggests that the relationship between Starmer and the capricious Trump is deteriorating, potentially undermining the Prime Minister’s efforts to act as a bridge between the US and Europe. Starmer had previously been hailed as the “Trump whisperer” for his ability to influence the former president, but this U-turn may signal the end of that dynamic.
As the Chagos Islands saga continues to unfold, the British government must now navigate the treacherous waters of international diplomacy, while facing the prospect of a more hostile relationship with the United States under the current administration. The future of this critical military outpost hangs in the balance, leaving the Prime Minister with a significant foreign policy challenge to overcome.
