Diego Garcia - Chagos Dossier: Trump and Starmer Seek a Solution

In a tense diplomatic climate, Keir Starmer and Donald Trump express a shared commitment to securing the future of the strategic base at Diego Garcia. However, beneath this apparent agreement, differences regarding the return of the islands to Mauritius are straining relations between London and Washington.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and American President Donald Trump have acknowledged the "strategic importance" of the joint airbase at Diego Garcia, located in the Chagos archipelago. They pledged to ensure its future operation, according to Downing Street, following a phone call on February 3.

This position comes amid a tense diplomatic backdrop. In January, Donald Trump harshly criticized the agreement made by the UK in 2025, which proposes the return of sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while keeping Diego Garcia under British control via a 99-year lease. He labeled the decision as a "total act of weakness" and "great stupidity."

Washington had previously approved this arrangement. However, Donald Trump has since changed his stance, arguing that this transfer of sovereignty could weaken the Western military posture in the Indian Ocean.

Keir Starmer, once regarded as a reliable partner—particularly regarding a deal on reducing certain tariffs—now sees this agreement weakened, not only by the Chagos issue but also by other disagreements, especially concerning American ambitions in Greenland. In the UK, the proposed return has also faced domestic criticism. Conservatives and the Reform Party believe it could enhance Chinese influence in the region and undermine Western military capacity.

In the United States, Republican Senator John Kennedy called on Keir Starmer to abandon his plan. In a speech in the Senate, he stated, "The only person on this planet who thinks this is a good idea, apart from Prime Minister Starmer, is Xi Jinping." He argued that once Mauritius regains sovereignty, Beijing could seek to inspect military equipment throughout the Chagos, including at Diego Garcia.

The senator even suggested that if London persisted, the islands could be sold to the United States, expressing his willingness to support legislation aimed at ensuring direct American control over "one of the most significant military bases in history."