Trump accuses UK PM Starmer of 'big mistake' on Diego Garcia air base deal

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hold a press conference following their meeting at Chequers, near Aylesbury, Britain, September 18, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/ File Photo

WASHINGTON/LONDON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President ⁠Donald Trump said on Wednesday that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was making a ⁠big mistake by entering into a lease on the Indian Ocean Chagos ‌archipelago that hosts the U.S.-UK Diego Garcia air base.

Under a 2025 agreement, Britain will transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining control of the strategically important Diego Garcia base under a 99-year lease.