UK PM Says US Intelligence Backs Chagos Deal Despite Trump Criticism

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said U.S. intelligence agencies do not share President Donald Trump’s opposition to the Chagos Islands agreement, asserting that the deal remains secure.

Starmer characterized the pact with Mauritius as a "done deal" during a flight to Beijing, stating the U.S. would not obstruct its implementation. He emphasized that the previous U.S. administration supported the agreement because it strengthens Western defense systems.

Downing Street sources said the British government has received no communication from the U.S. State Department or intelligence community suggesting a reversal of their position.

Last week, Trump called the decision to cede sovereignty of the archipelago "extremely stupid" and a sign of weakness toward China and Russia. He cited the move as one of the reasons he expressed interest in purchasing Greenland.

Under the agreement reached last May, Britain will transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. However, the U.K. will lease back Diego Garcia—home to a critical U.S. and British military base—for 99 years.

Legislation regarding the handover is currently delayed in the House of Lords as discussions with U.S. officials continue.

The friction underscores a widening rift between Donald Trump’s public rhetoric and the institutionalized policy of the U.S. national security apparatus. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has consistently signaled that the U.K.-U.S. alliance remains anchored in deep-state cooperation—specifically through the Pentagon and intelligence agencies—rather than the volatility of presidential social media posts.

However, Trump’s approach appears increasingly transactional. By reportedly linking the Chagos Islands sovereignty deal to his aspirations for Greenland, he is signaling a willingness to weaponize the security concerns of a key ally as leverage for unrelated policy objectives. This unpredictability creates a climate of instability for traditional partners who have historically relied on the continuity and reliability of Washington’s strategic commitments.

The situation leaves the British government in a precarious position. London moved forward with the Chagos agreement in part due to pressure from Washington to secure the long-term legal standing of the Diego Garcia military base against international challenges. The irony of being publicly rebuked by the U.S. president for a decision prompted by American strategic interests is significant. With related legislation now stalled in the U.S. Senate, it is evident that Trump’s commentary possesses enough gravity to disrupt established policy, effectively forcing London into a strategic pause and a potential renegotiation.

This development carries no direct impact on the daily concerns of the Vietnamese-American community, from the local commerce of Little Saigon to the operations of the nail salon industry and phở restaurants. It does not disrupt the flow of remittances or the standard processing of visa categories like F2B, H-1B, TPS, or EB-5. However, on a macro level, the stability of strategic U.S. bases such as Diego Garcia is a vital component of security in the Indo-Pacific—a region that remains a primary concern for the diaspora.