In a notable statement on his social media platform, Donald Trump has advised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to uphold the status of the Chagos Islands as Britain plans to ceded sovereignty to Mauritius. Trump's warning comes in the context of a controversial deal that includes a long-term lease for the Diego Garcia military base, which the US views as strategically vital for its military operations in the Indian Ocean region. He characterized Starmer's potential acquiescence as a 'big mistake' and framed it as a compromise influenced by what he termed 'wokeism'.

The Chagos Islands, located about 500 kilometers from the Maldives, are home to nearly 5,000 inhabitants and consist of about 60 islands. The US maintains significant military interests in this archipelago, especially with regard to Diego Garcia, which serves as a pivotal military base for American operations. Trump's emphatic call to 'DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!', underscores the importance the US places on military flexibility and control in this strategic area.

The background of this situation involves a 2025 agreement in which the UK is to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius while retaining control of Diego Garcia for military purposes through a lengthy lease. Trump's intervention sends a clear signal of the ongoing geopolitical implications of such territorial decisions and highlights the dynamic between political considerations and strategic military needs in the face of changing international relations.