Donald Trump beforehand mentioned he authorised the Chagos Islands deal struck by the UK.
Donald Trump has criticised as soon as once more the UK’s Chagos Islands deal (Picture: Getty)
Donald Trump has launched a rare assault on Sir Keir Starmer, warning the Prime Minister he’s making “a giant mistake” and demanding the Chagos deal is torn up. The US President took to the social media platform Fact Social to blast the controversial settlement, telling Sir Keir: “DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!” Mr Trump warned: “Prime Minister Starmer is shedding management of this necessary Island by claims of entities by no means identified of earlier than. In our opinion, they’re fictitious in nature.” The intervention piles stress on Sir Keir over his resolution at hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius below a 99-year lease for the Diego Garcia army base.
Mr Trump additionally mentioned in his message: “I’ve been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the UK, that Leases are not any good in the case of International locations, and that he’s making a giant mistake by getting into a 100 12 months Lease with whoever it’s that’s ‘claiming’ Proper, Title, and Curiosity to Diego Garcia.” The President mentioned Diego Garcia, strategically situated within the Indian Ocean, may very well be essential if America must take army motion towards Iran. He warned: “Ought to Iran resolve to not make a Deal, it might be obligatory for america to make use of Diego Garcia, and the Airfield situated in Fairford, so as to eradicate a possible assault by a extremely unstable and harmful Regime.”
Mr Trump added the risk may very well be “an assault that may probably be made on the UK, in addition to different pleasant International locations.” Regardless of the stark warning about Britain’s safety, the President insisted: “Our relationship with the UK is a robust and highly effective one, and it has been for a few years.”
However he issued a dire prediction in regards to the Chagos deal, saying: “This land shouldn’t be taken away from the U.Okay. and, whether it is allowed to be, it is going to be a blight on our Nice Ally.” Mr Trump concluded saying that the US “will at all times be prepared, keen, and in a position to combat for the U.Okay., however they’ve to stay robust within the face of Wokeism, and different issues put earlier than them.”
The extraordinary intervention comes because the Chagos deal faces mounting opposition at residence and overseas. The Conservatives have branded it a “catastrophic give up” that palms a strategic army asset near a Chinese language ally whereas costing British taxpayers billions.
In January, Mr Trump had already attacked the Chagos deal in a distinct Fact Social publish, saying the transfer as an “act of nice stupidity” – months after he and senior US officers endorsed it.
A FCDO spokesperson mentioned: “The deal to safe the joint UK-US army base on Diego Garcia army is essential to the safety of the UK and our key allies, and to conserving the British folks secure. The settlement we’ve reached is the one option to assure the long-term way forward for this important army base.”
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