Donald Trump signals he could SUPPORT Labour’s £9billion plan to surrender the Chagos Islands to Mauritius as he meets Keir Starmer_Nhy
Donald Trump tonight signalled the US could support Keir Starmer’s plan to cede control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, despite hopes he would block what critics say is a ‘surrender’ of UK territory.
The US president suggested he could ignore Republican and Tory fury at the government’s plan to hand over the Indian Ocean archipelago, as he met with Sir Keir Starmer in the White House.
Labour is preparing to cede sovereignty but lease back the US-UK military base on Diego Garcia at a reported cost of almost £9billion over the 99-year term of the agreement.
The move has angered opposition parties and even senior Labour figures have questioned the wisdom of the handover.
But speaking as he met Sir Keir in the Oval Office this evening the president said: ‘We’re going to have some discussions about that very soon, and I have a feeling it’s going to work out very well,’ Mr Trump said.
‘I think we’ll be inclined to go along with your country.’
If that position is confirmed it will prove a devastating blow to figures including Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.
Yesterday her spokesman said she was hoping Trump, as the leader of a ‘foreign power’ would ‘stop the Labour government doing something which is not only a ruinous burden to taxpayers, but also a massive loss of strategic advantage in the Indian Ocean’.
Tonight shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said: ‘Surrendering British territory remains an appalling betrayal of the British people. America might think it is their interest. But it is not ours.
The US president suggested he could ignore Republican and Tory fury at the government’s plan to hand over the Indian Ocean archipelago, as he met with Sir Keir Starmer in the White House.
But the deal can only go ahead with the approval of the United States, which has an airbase at Diego Garcia.
‘There is no good legal reason to give up the Chagos Islands and it would be a strategic disaster for Britain.’
David Lammy last night admitted that Labour’s plan to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius – along with £9bn – could still be nixed by Donald Trump.
The Foreign Secretary said defended the much-criticised agreement to cede the British Indian Ocean Territory, saying it was the ‘best deal’ which could be struck.
But the deal can only go ahead with the approval of the United States, which has an airbase at Diego Garcia.
The future of the archipelago is set to be on the agenda when Sir Keir Starmer meets Trump at the White House later today.
It has already come under fire from some of Mr Trump’s Republican allies, who fear the deal hands China a geopolitical advantage in the region.
Asked by ITV‘s Peston programme if the US leader had a veto on the agreement, Mr Lammy replied: ‘If President Trump doesn’t like the deal, the deal will not go forward.
‘The reason for that is because we have a shared military and intelligence interest with the United States, and of course they’ve got to be happy with the deal, or there is no deal.’
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The Foreign Secretary said defended the much-criticised agreement to cede the British Indian Ocean Territory, saying it was the ‘best deal’ which could be struck.
Speaking from the US, he had earlier said the UK’s military and intelligence was ‘very intertwined with the United States’, adding: ‘We struck a deal. After striking that deal, there was a change of government in Mauritius, and the new government in Mauritius had to have time to look at the deal.
‘And there has been a change of government here in the United States, and the United States administration have had time to look at the deal. I still believe it’s the best deal.’
Last night Sir Keir was accused of having ‘all but confessed’ that Labour‘s defence cash boost would be used to fund the Chagos Islands giveaway.
Just a day after announcing the major increase to the military budget, the Prime Minister refused to rule out handing some of the money to Mauritius.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister announced that the Government will meet its manifesto commitment to raise military spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP two years early.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir of having ‘all but confessed at Prime Minister’s Questions that the cost of surrendering the Chagos Islands will come from the defence budget’.
She added: ‘Labour must not give a penny of defence cash to fund this shady deal. National interest first. No ifs or buts.’ Mrs Badenoch pressed Sir Keir over the Chagos deal during a heated clash at PMQs in the Commons.
It came after Defence Secretary John Healey failed to rule out whether any potential funding for the deal was being accounted for by the new defence budget.
Mrs Badenoch asked the PM to ‘confirm to the House that none of the defence uplift includes payments for his Chagos deal?’
But Sir Keir declined to rule it out, saying the ‘additional spend I announced [on Tuesday] is for our capability on defence and security in Europe’.
He added: ‘The Chagos deal is extremely important for our security, for US security. The US are rightly looking at it. When it’s finalised I’ll put it before the House with the costings.’
After PMQs, Mrs Badenoch’s spokesman said it was ‘incumbent on the Government as soon as possible to explain where the money is coming from’ for the Chagos deal.
