Trump reversed support for Chagos deal after UK blocked use of bases for Iran strikes
Trump explicitly linked the deal to potential preemptive military action against Iran
UK maintains that its airbases can only be used for operations deemed legal under international law
The Chagos agreement bill faces uncertainty in Parliament with Conservatives opposing the plan
📖 Full Retelling
US President Donald Trump reversed his position on supporting the Chagos Islands deal in February 2026 after the UK refused to permit its airbases on Diego Garcia and Fairford to be used for potential preemptive military strikes against Iran over Tehran's nuclear ambitions, according to sources speaking to the Guardian. In his latest social media post on Truth Social, Trump criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for 'making a big mistake' by agreeing to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in exchange for continued use of the strategic airbase on Diego Garcia. The reversal came after Trump had previously described the deal as the 'best' Starmer could make under the circumstances, only to change his stance when learning that the UK would not allow its bases to be used for potential strikes against Iran. The US president explicitly linked the deal with military action against Iran, writing that 'it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime.' This position puts the UK government in a difficult position as it continues to support the Chagos agreement while maintaining that military operations from its territory must comply with international law and government approval.
🏷️ Themes
International Relations, Military Strategy, Diplomatic Negotiations
Diego Garcia is the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago. It has been used as a joint UK–U.S. military base since the 1970s, following the expulsion of the Chagossians by the UK government. The Chagos Islands are a British overseas territory, though a treaty to transfer sovereignty from the UK t...
# Iran
**Iran**, officially the **Islamic Republic of Iran** and historically known as **Persia**, is a sovereign country situated in West Asia. It is a major regional power, ranking as the 17th-largest country in the world by both land area and population. Combining a rich historical legacy with a...
President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
Born into a wealthy New York City family, Trump graduated from the...
The Chagos Archipelago (, also UK: ) or Chagos Islands (formerly Bassas de Chagas, and later the Oil Islands) is a group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 islands in the Indian Ocean about 500 kilometres (310 mi) south of the Maldives archipelago. This chain of islands is the southernmost arch...
Trump changed mind on Chagos deal ‘after UK blocked use of Diego Garcia for Iran strikes’ US president links deal with military strikes against Iran in connection with Tehran’s nuclear ambitions Donald Trump changed his mind on supporting the Chagos Islands deal because the UK will not permit its airbases to be used for a pre-emptive US strike on Iran, the Guardian has been told. In his latest change of heart on the deal, the US president said on social media that Keir Starmer was “making a big mistake” by handing sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius in exchange for continued use by the UK and US of their airbase on one of the islands, Diego Garcia. While Trump had previously criticised the plan, which is backed by the US state department, earlier in February he had described it as the “best” deal Starmer could make in the circumstances. But in Trump’s post on his own Truth Social site he linked the deal with US military strikes against Iran in connection with Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, which are believed to be imminent . He wrote: “Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime.” A pre-emptive strike on Iran would be unlikely to be in line with the UK’s interpretation of international law. US bases in the UK, like Fairford in Gloucestershire, the home for US B-2 bombers in Europe, are only used for military operations if the UK government agrees and they are considered legal. UK government sources said this was viewed as the reason for Trump to again turn against the Chagos plan. On Tuesday night, Starmer and Trump spoke in a conversation that covered the situation in Iran, although the Downing Street readout of the call made no mention of the Chagos plan. The hope in No 10 is that Trump will again change his mind. The bill setting out the Chagos agreement is due to return to the House of...
