UK and US Stand Firm on Chagos Air Base Importance After Trump Raises Concerns

Post by : Saif

The United Kingdom and the United States have once again confirmed that the military air base in the Chagos Archipelago remains strategically vital, despite recent criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump over Britain’s decision to hand over sovereignty of the islands. The renewed commitment followed a direct conversation between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Trump, aimed at maintaining close defence cooperation.

According to a statement from Downing Street, both leaders agreed that the air base on Diego Garcia plays a crucial role in regional and global security. They pledged that their governments would continue working closely together to ensure the long-term operation of the base and would hold further discussions in the near future.

The issue came into focus last month when President Trump sharply criticised Britain’s 2025 agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius. He described the move as a sign of weakness and questioned its wisdom, suggesting it could undermine Western military interests. His remarks created uncertainty about how the decision might affect relations between the two long-time allies.

Under the agreement, Britain returned the islands to Mauritius, its former colony, while keeping control of the Diego Garcia base through a 99-year lease. This arrangement had already received approval from Washington, which recognised the base as a key military hub in the Indian Ocean. The base allows the US and UK to project power and respond quickly to security threats across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Prime Minister Starmer has generally maintained stable ties with President Trump, even becoming the first leader to secure an agreement to reduce some trade tariffs. However, relations have faced strain over recent disagreements, including Trump’s public comments about acquiring Greenland and his strong reaction to the Chagos deal.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the UK statement, but British officials have stressed that defence and security cooperation with the United States remains solid and unchanged.

The Chagos Archipelago is made up of six main atolls and more than 600 smaller islands. It is located about 500 kilometres south of the Maldives and sits roughly halfway between Africa and Indonesia. Around 4,000 military personnel and support staff are stationed there, most of them linked to operations at the Diego Garcia base.

The history of the islands is deeply controversial. During the late 1960s and 1970s, Britain forcibly removed up to 2,000 indigenous Chagossians to make way for the military base. The displacement has remained a sensitive issue for decades, with affected families continuing to seek justice and recognition.

In recent years, Diego Garcia has been actively used for both military and humanitarian missions. Aircraft operating from the base carried out strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in 2024 and 2025, and it has also supported humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.

By reaffirming the importance of the Chagos air base, both London and Washington appear determined to prevent political disagreements from weakening their defence partnership. Despite criticism and diplomatic tension, the base continues to be viewed as a cornerstone of shared security interests.

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