Do not give away Diego Garcia, Trump tells UK in fresh attack on Chagos deal

πŸŒ… Good Morning! Here is your latest news update.

The president's comments come just a day after the US gave its official backing to the UK's Chagos deal.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesHomeNewsUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessWorld of BusinessTechnology of BusinessNYSE Opening BellTechnologyWatch DocumentariesArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindHealthWatch DocumentariesCultureWatch DocumentariesFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsWatch DocumentariesArts in MotionTravelWatch DocumentariesDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthWatch DocumentariesScienceNatural WondersClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoWatch DocumentariesBBC MaestroDiscover the WorldLiveLive NewsLive SportDocumentariesHomeNewsSportBusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveDo not give away Diego Garcia, Trump tells UK in fresh attack on Chagos deal40 minutes agoShareSaveJaroslav LukivShareSaveGettyThe US had previously supported the UK's decision to proceed with the Chagos dealDonald Trump has thrown the UK's Chagos deal into doubt as he launched a stinging criticism of the plan that would see the UK hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back a joint UK-US military base.

The US president urged Sir Keir Starmer not to "give away Diego Garcia" - the largest island on the archipelago and home to the base.

Trump said "this land should not be taken away from the UK" and if it did it would be "a blight on our Great Ally", in a post on social media.

This comes despite Washington on Tuesday giving its official backing to London's plan to cede sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius.

In response to Trump, the UK Foreign Office said the Chagos Islands deal was "crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe".

"The agreement we have reached is the only way to guarantee the long-term future of this vital military base," it said in a statement.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously insisted the deal is necessary to protect the continued operation of the base, amid previous attempts from Mauritius to dispute the legality of British sovereignty over the islands.

Diego Garcia is the largest island in the archipelago, and is used as a joint military base by the UK and US armed forces.

Under the deal - which was announced last May - the UK will lease back Diego Garcia for a period of 99 years.

Trump's latest comments come ahead of talks between the US and Mauritius planned for next week.

The US president's position on the issue has seen rapid U-turns in recent months - from describing the planned transfer as an "act of great stupidity" to saying the deal was the "best" the prime minister could make.

UK ministers have previously said that the deal could not go ahead unless it had the support of the US.

The bill, aimed at enshrining the agreement into UK law, has been delayed and there is no date set for the next stage.

UK Minister Alex Davies-Jones said the bill would return

Source: BBC

Post a Comment

0 Comments