Trump says retains right to 'militarily' secure Chagos airbase
Reuters
Thu, February 5, 2026 at 6:25 PM UTC
1 min read
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Feb 5 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said he retained the right to "militarily secure" a joint US-UK airbase in the Chagos Archipelago following "productive" discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
"I understand that the deal Prime Minister Starmer has made, according to many, the best he could make," Trump said in a post on Truth Social, referencing a 2025 deal Starmer made to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago which includes the island with the joint US-UK air base.
Trump had previously criticized the deal calling it an act of "total weakness" and "great stupidity".
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"However, if the lease deal, sometime in the future, ever falls apart, or anyone threatens or endangers U.S. operations and forces at our Base, I retain the right to Militarily secure and reinforce the American presence in Diego Garcia," Trump said.
The British Prime Minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Costas Pitas and Bhargav Acharya; Writing by Christian Martinez; editing by Susan Heavey and Michelle Nichols )