President Donald Trump highlighted the strategic importance of a small island in the Indian Ocean, suggesting it could be used to thwart a possible attack from Iran if the United States fails to reach a deal that averts a military conflict with the Islamic regime.
The president’s latest statement on Diego Garcia comes as the United Kingdom is trying to secure a 99-year lease with Mauritius. The deal would transfer the British territory to the East African nation for the next century, while the U.K. would retain its air base shared with the U.S. on the island.
On Wednesday, Trump signaled his opposition to the lease agreement despite his administration’s support of the deal.
“Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, “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.”
Trump came to this conclusion after speaking with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has been proceeding with the 99-year lease after striking an agreement with Mauritius last year.
“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,” he said. “DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!”
The statement stands in contrast to the State Department’s support of the deal, although the department says it is concerned about the national security implications of handing over an island with a joint U.K.-U.S. air base to a foreign nation.
“The United States supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago,” a State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday. “The United States reiterates its desire to conclude a bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom to guarantee continued use of basing and other facilities in the Chagos archipelago to advance U.S. national security, as well as security and stability across the Indian Ocean.”
The U.S. will discuss the matter with Mauritius early next week. Talks are scheduled for Feb. 23 through 25.
Asked by a reporter if the Trump administration’s position on the deal has changed after Trump’s post, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the message accurately reflects U.S. policy.
“The post should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration,” she responded on Wednesday. “It’s coming straight from the horse’s mouth. When you see it on Truth Social, you know it’s directly from President Trump.”
Earlier this month, Trump suggested on Truth Social he could secure Diego Garcia by force if the deal “ever falls apart, or anyone threatens or endangers U.S. operations and forces at our Base.”
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Located in the Chagos Archipelago, Diego Garcia sits about 2,360 miles south of Iran. The distance puts U.S. bombers within range to strike Iran but also keeps the air base outside the range of most Iranian missiles or drones.
Tensions are escalating between the U.S. and Iran as both sides discuss a possible nuclear deal and the U.S. military builds its presence surrounding Iran, with Trump reportedly deploying the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Middle East this week to join the USS Abraham Lincoln in the waters near Iran.
