David Vance SubstackRead More
President Trump has once again proven why he is the steadfast ally that Britain desperately needs. Posting over on Truth Social, Trump issued a direct warning to Prime Minister Keir Starmer:
He has rightly condemned the Labour government’s reckless plan to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while merely leasing back the vital military base on Diego Garcia for 99 years.
Trump called it “a big mistake,” warning that leases are “no good when it comes to Countries” and that Starmer risks losing control of this strategically vital asset in the Indian Ocean. It’s hard to argue with this and it’s not the first time that Trump has expressed his frustration over Starmer’s determination to surrender the Chagos Islands.
A few months ago he posted this;
Trump’s intervention exposes the craven weakness of Starmer’s foreign policy. This deal, rushed through despite widespread opposition, represents one an appalling capitulation.
Diego Garcia itself has been a cornerstone of UK-US defence cooperation since the 1960s, hosting a joint base critical for operations across the Middle East and beyond. It was established after Britain secured the territory in 1814 and developed it for strategic purposes. Now, Starmer is handing it over on fictional claims from China-friendly Mauritius, all in the name of appeasing international critics and virtue-signalling on colonial legacies. The Prime Minister’s insistence that this surrender is “necessary” to protect the base is truly laughable. Lord Harmer may nod along with this nonsense but the rest of us see right through it.
As Trump astutely pointed out, it leaves Britain vulnerable and undermines our “Great Ally” status with the United States.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel branded the deal “an utter humiliation” for Starmer, urging him to scrap it entirely. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage praised Trump, declaring the agreement “the worst deal in British history” and warning it risks alienating America’s most important ally. These critics are spot on: Starmer’s woke-driven diplomacy is eroding Britain’s sovereignty and deterrence at a time when threats from regimes like Iran loom large.
Trump has even hinted at the base’s potential role in countering Iranian aggression, underscoring its irreplaceable value. In contrast to Starmer’s timidity, Trump vows America will “always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the U.K.,” but only if Britain remains “strong in the face of Wokeism.”
This is the robust partnership we need—not grovelling concessions that invite exploitation.
Starmer must heed Trump’s advice and abandon this disastrous deal. Under Trump, America is back as a forceful leader; Britain should follow suit rather than fade into absolute irrelevance. However I can’t see this happening whilst there is a Labour Government in power. Frankly, Starmer seems more at ease with China than the USA.
