President Donald Trump, shifting his tone yet again, warned Britain on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) not to “give away” a key Indian Ocean base, saying it would be vital if the United States attacks Iran.
Mr. Trump, who is considering strikes on the Islamic republic, lashed out hours after the State Department offered the latest U.S. support to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s deal to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Intense U.S. naval, air power buildup sets stage for potential Iran war
Under the agreement, Britain would instead pay to lease the strategic joint U.S.-U.K. base at Diego Garcia for a century.
“Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease,” Mr. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
