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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump have reaffirmed the strategic importance of the U.S.-UK military air base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago, committing to close cooperation to ensure its continued operation. Downing Street confirmed on Tuesday that both leaders agreed their governments would work together to safeguard the future of the base, which plays a critical role in global security.
The discussion comes after renewed controversy over Britain’s 2025 agreement to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius while retaining control of Diego Garcia under a 99-year lease. Trump had previously criticised the deal, calling it an act of “total weakness” and “great stupidity,” raising questions about its implications for U.S. and UK strategic interests. Despite these remarks, the latest call suggests a shared understanding of the military base’s value and a willingness to maintain operational stability.
The Diego Garcia base is one of the most strategically significant military installations in the world, located in the Indian Ocean roughly halfway between Africa and Indonesia and about 500 kilometres south of the Maldives. More than 4,000 personnel are stationed across the archipelago’s six main atolls, which are part of a chain of over 600 islands. The base has been central to recent military and humanitarian operations, including bombing strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in 2024 and 2025, as well as humanitarian aid deployments to Gaza.
Starmer, leader of the UK’s Labour government, has generally maintained a strong working relationship with Trump, becoming the first foreign leader to secure an agreement to reduce certain U.S. tariffs. However, that relationship has faced strain due to disagreements over Trump’s expressed interest in acquiring Greenland and comments related to the Chagos Islands.
Washington had previously approved the UK-Mauritius deal, recognising the importance of retaining access to Diego Garcia. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the latest UK statement.
The Chagos Archipelago remains a sensitive issue due to Britain’s forced displacement of up to 2,000 indigenous Chagossians in the late 1960s and 1970s to establish the base. Despite ongoing legal and moral debates, both London and Washington continue to emphasise the base’s critical role in regional and global security.
