"In his latest change of heart on the deal, the US president said on social media that Keir Starmer was making a big mistake by handing sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius in exchange for continued use by the UK and US of their airbase on one of the islands, Diego Garcia. While Trump had previously criticised the plan, which is backed by the US state department, earlier in February he had described it as the best deal Starmer could make in the circumstances."
"But in Trump's post on his own Truth Social site he linked the deal with US military strikes against Iran in connection with Tehran's nuclear ambitions, which are believed to be imminent. He wrote: 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."
Donald Trump reversed his support for the Chagos Islands sovereignty agreement because the UK would not permit use of its airbases for a pre-emptive US strike on Iran. Trump said Keir Starmer was making a big mistake by handing sovereignty to Mauritius in exchange for continued UK and US use of the Diego Garcia airbase. He warned that the United States might need to use Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford to eradicate a potential Iranian attack if Iran rejects a deal. UK government sources cited the UK's requirement for government agreement and legal justification for base operations as the reason for Trump's opposition. Trump and Starmer spoke about the situation in Iran. The bill is due to return to the House of Lords.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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