Topics: Donald Trump, Truth Social, US News, UK News
Donald Trump has sent a clear message to the UK and Keir Starmer over the prime minister's plan to give up the Chagos Islands.
Last year, the Trump administration announced it supported the UK government on the move, with the president telling Starmer he had a 'a feeling it’s going to work out very well'.
However, Trump has since U-turned on this and said in a recent Truth Social post that Starmer is 'making a big mistake by entering [into] a 100-year lease' with Mauritius.
In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump wrote: "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, strategically located in the Indian Ocean.
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"Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but 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 islands are home to a joint US-UK military base, explaining Trump's interest in the matter.
Trump continued: "Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease. 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. We 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."
Last month, Trump accused the UK of 'great stupidly' for agreeing to give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and stated he no longer supported the deal.
Taking to Truth Social once more, the president wrote: "Shockingly, our 'brilliant' NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.
"There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness."
Trump added: "The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired."
Following the outburst by President Trump, the UK government said it would 'never compromise on our national security'.
