World · 6 February 2026
Donald Trump offers reluctant backing for British Chagos deal
Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Former US President Donald Trump has expressed support for the UK’s settlement over the Chagos Islands, calling it the most practical resolution, a marked reversal from his previous dismissal of the plan as weak. He added a firm caveat, warning that American forces would act to protect the Diego Garcia base if the lease agreement falters. The endorsement comes as a welcome relief for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, providing a measure of political reprieve amid recent challenges.
Reported by Sky News · How we write briefs