Feb 18 • 22:44 UTC 🇬🇧 UK Sky News

PM must bring Trump back from the brink or Chagos deal is dead

Donald Trump has criticized the UK's Chagos deal with Mauritius, claiming it threatens U.S.-UK relations and urges Prime Minister Keir Starmer to abandon the agreement.

In a recent social media outburst, US President Donald Trump has launched a fierce attack on the UK's agreement concerning the Chagos archipelago with Mauritius. Trump labeled the deal as "a blight" on the United Kingdom and accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of losing control over the military base located on Diego Garcia. This volatile commentary from the US leader comes amidst a backdrop of increasing tensions regarding the US-UK diplomatic relationship, particularly concerning military base usage and international agreements regarding territories in the Indian Ocean.

Trump's statement follows a day after the US government expressed its support for the UK's decision to pursue the agreement with Mauritius, emphasizing its commitment to the strategic partnership with the UK. The apparent dissonance between Trump's remarks and the official position of the US government has left Number 10 in a precarious position, needing to navigate complicated diplomatic waters. The situation raises significant questions about the stability of the UK's foreign policy directions and their potential implications on military operations in the region.

The Chagos agreement's fate now hangs in the balance, especially with Trump's substantial influence over the American political landscape. With this new dissent from Trump, the pressure mounts on Starmer to make a decisive move. Britain must address both domestic expectations and the complicated dynamics of its relationship with the US to ensure its positions regarding overseas territories are not undermined, keeping in mind the geopolitical stakes involved in the Indian Ocean region.

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