From Breitbart: Giving away the British Indian Ocean Territory would be a “blight” on Britain that endangers national security and should not be permitted, President Trump said, reportedly prompting Downing Street to “pause for thought” on whether to proceed with the deal.
The highly contested plan to give away a highly strategic slice of British territory in the Indian Ocean — which contains one of the world’s most valuable military bases — is again under intense scrutiny as U.S. President Donald Trump told Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to stop bowing to “wokeism” and international law and just act in his national interest. Starmer, a slavish internationalist who even in what observers say are the dying days of his leadership has clung to his political capital-crushing deal to pay Mauritius to take away the British Indian Ocean Territory, has been attempting to force a bill making his treaty law through Parliament.
It was due to be brought back to the house next week, but following Trump’s broadside proclaiming “This land should not be taken away from the UK… do not give away Diego Garcia”, the British government is now to take a “pause for thought” on the matter, so claims Politico citing an unnamed Westminster official.
Under the terms of the treaty, Britain would have given the chain of islands of Mauritius and then leased back the land on which the Diego Garcia base, a joint British-American airbase, naval base, and intelligence listening outpost, for 100 years at the price of billions of dollars. Starmer’s government apparently believes it has to do this because an international court told it to, and it thinks giving the land away then leasing it back is a more reliable way of holding onto the deeply strategic military base than simply holding onto the land.
President Donald Trump blasted out the following statement on Truth Social Wednesday afternoon:
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.
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.
Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime — An attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly Countries. 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. DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!
Donald J. Trump Truth Social Post 01:42 PM EST 02.18.26 pic.twitter.com/VGz5RsH1Rn
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 19, 2026
UK to ‘pause for thought’ on Chagos Islands deal after Trump blast …
Not rocket science: just scrap this daft idea
No pause needed https://t.co/R8EbSOlUaK
— Richard Tice MP 🇬🇧 (@TiceRichard) February 19, 2026
READ MORE from Breitbart.
Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter.)
The DML News App: www.X.com/DMLNewsApp
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
