UK and US Reaffirm Strategic Importance of Chagos Air Base After Trump Criticism

Post by : Saif Nasser

The United Kingdom and the United States have jointly reaffirmed the strategic importance of the military air base located in the Chagos Archipelago, following sharp criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump over Britain’s recent agreement involving the islands. The statement comes after a phone conversation between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Trump, aimed at easing tensions and confirming continued cooperation.

Downing Street said both leaders recognised the vital role played by the U.S.-UK air base on Diego Garcia, one of the islands in the Chagos group. They agreed that their governments would work closely together to guarantee the future operation of the base and remain in contact on the issue. The base is considered a key military asset in the Indian Ocean region.

The issue gained attention last month when President Trump strongly criticised Britain’s 2025 decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius. Trump described the move as an act of “total weakness” and “great stupidity,” arguing that it risked weakening Western strategic interests. His comments raised concerns about possible strain in UK-US relations.

Under the deal approved last year, Britain agreed to hand over the islands to Mauritius, its former colony. However, the agreement allows the United Kingdom to retain control of the Diego Garcia base through a 99-year lease. Washington had already given its approval to this arrangement, recognising the importance of maintaining military access to the base.

Prime Minister Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, has so far managed to build a working relationship with President Trump. He became the first foreign leader to secure an agreement reducing some trade tariffs. However, relations have faced pressure due to disagreements over Trump’s public interest in buying Greenland and his reaction to the Chagos agreement.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the UK’s statement following the leaders’ call. Still, Britain has stressed that cooperation with the United States on defence and security remains strong.

The Chagos Archipelago consists of six main atolls and more than 600 smaller islands. It lies around 500 kilometres south of the Maldives and roughly midway between Africa and Indonesia. About 4,000 military and support personnel are stationed in the area, mainly connected to operations at Diego Garcia.

The history of the islands remains controversial. In the late 1960s and 1970s, Britain forcibly removed up to 2,000 indigenous Chagossians to make way for the military base. Many of those displaced have long sought the right to return or receive compensation, making the issue a sensitive one both legally and morally.

In recent years, Diego Garcia has played an active role in global military and humanitarian missions. Operations launched from the base included air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in 2024 and 2025, as well as humanitarian aid missions to Gaza.

By restating their shared commitment to the base, both London and Washington appear keen to move past the public disagreement. The latest statement suggests that despite political tensions and sharp words, the UK and US continue to see the Chagos air base as a cornerstone of their long-standing defence partnership.