Donald Trump's Turnaround: The American President Approves the Agreement on the Chagos Islands

In a sudden and unexpected diplomatic turnaround, Donald Trump has officially expressed his support for the plan to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, championed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This shift marks the end of a period of intense tensions between Washington and London, which arose after the American president initially labeled the agreement as an 'act of great stupidity.' This reversal, announced via the Truth Social platform, follows direct exchanges between the two leaders, easing a crisis that threatened to weaken the special transatlantic relationship and the future of the strategic military base at Diego Garcia.

While the occupant of the White House now concedes that this agreement is the best that the Labour leader could achieve, his approval comes with firm conditions regarding the sustainability of American operations in the Indian Ocean. Donald Trump clarified that he reserves the right to militarily secure the area if the lease were to be threatened by external claims or environmental constraints. For the British government, this green light from Washington allows the legislative process to be restarted in the House of Lords, as the project had been temporarily suspended in light of the American administration's initial anger.

Despite this international clarification, the agreement continues to face strong opposition in the United Kingdom. The Conservative Party, through Priti Patel, denounces a 'shameful capitulation' that would cede sovereign territory and billions of pounds to a state close to Beijing. However, the Starmer government maintains its position, arguing that this treaty is the only legal guarantee to secure Western military presence in the region in the long term. This outcome fits into a series of recent retractions by President Trump regarding his British ally, illustrating an unpredictable diplomacy where realpolitik ultimately prevails over rhetorical flourishes.