Trump Issues Urgent Warning to UK Leader: Do Not Allow ‘Fictitious’ Claims to Take Diego Garcia

President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging him not to “give away” the strategically vital Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia—a move he claims could severely weaken Western security at a critical juncture.

In a Wednesday post on Truth Social, Trump condemned any proposed long-term lease agreement for the island, labeling it a “big mistake” for the United Kingdom to enter into arrangements with entities he described as “claiming” rights to Diego Garcia. He emphasized that Starmer is “losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before,” which Trump characterized as “fictitious in nature.”

Diego Garcia, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, hosts a joint U.S.-United Kingdom military base critical for projecting power across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The island has served as a launch point for U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and is widely regarded as a linchpin in deterring adversaries including Iran and China.

Trump’s warning comes amid heightened tensions with Iran over nuclear ambitions and regional aggression. He cautioned that if Tehran “decide[s] not to make a Deal,” the United States may need to deploy Diego Garcia—alongside RAF Fairford in the U.K.—to counter potential attacks by what he termed a “highly unstable and dangerous Regime.”

“Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia,” Trump wrote. “This land should not be taken away from the U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally.”

The island’s status has faced international legal disputes, particularly following a 2019 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice suggesting the United Kingdom relinquish control of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius. British officials have endured mounting diplomatic pressure regarding its future.

Security experts note that shifting sovereignty or long-term control could complicate U.S. military access and undermine Western deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. Trump framed his warning as part of a broader effort to resist what he called “Wokeism” and other forces weakening Western resolve, stating, “We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the U.K.” He added, “But they have to remain strong.”

His message was unequivocal: “DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA.”