Trump Opposes UK-Mauritius Diego Garcia Lease, Cites Potential Need for Iran Contingency Operations

INDIAN OCEAN - President Donald Trump has publicly criticized the United Kingdom’s agreement to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius while retaining a 99-year lease and full defense rights on Diego Garcia.

Trump described the arrangement as a “big mistake” in a Truth Social post dated February 18 and explicitly linked the base’s future utility to a scenario in which Iran refuses a nuclear deal.

The United Kingdom maintains operational control and security responsibility for Diego Garcia under the lease framework, which supports long-range air and naval operations across the Indo-Pacific and Persian Gulf.

he State Department responded the same day, reiterating that diplomacy remains the preferred path while noting Iran would be wise to reach an agreement.

Key Developments in the Diego Garcia Dispute

The UK-Mauritius agreement transfers sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius except for Diego Garcia, where Britain retains a 99-year lease with complete operational and defense authority.

​Trump’s February 18 statement frames the lease as potentially vulnerable and directly ties the base to Iran contingencies, stating it “may be necessary for the United States to use” along with supporting facilities.

No formal UK response to Trump’s latest intervention has been issued beyond prior assurances of retained control. Mauritius has welcomed the deal as resolving long-standing sovereignty claims.

US-Iran Nuclear Engagement Status

A second round of indirect US-Iran nuclear talks concluded in Geneva on February 17 with both sides reporting progress on guiding principles, though significant gaps remain on enrichment and other core issues.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the discussions as constructive, while US officials noted that Iran has not yet acknowledged all US red lines. Negotiations are scheduled to resume in two weeks.

Trump has repeatedly signaled that failure to secure a deal could require military options, positioning Diego Garcia as a critical logistical hub. Iranian officials have reaffirmed their right to peaceful nuclear activities under IAEA safeguards and referenced joint naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz as defensive measures. The State Department maintains that diplomacy is the first option.

Official Statements

• Donald J. Trump, February 18, 2026: “I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that Leases are no good when it comes to Countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease with whoever it is that is ‘claiming’ Right, Title, and Interest to Diego Garcia, strategically located in the Indian Ocean… 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… DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!”