Trump hints US would use force to secure Diego Garcia if access is threatened

Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post that the United States could militarily secure the Diego Garcia base if a future deal or access is threatened, following what he called productive discussions with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He stressed the strategic importance of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for U.S. national security. The base—leased from the U.K. with sovereignty disputed by Mauritius—hosts about 2,500 personnel and has long been used for U.S. operations. Britain has agreed to compensate Mauritius and allow a possible lease extension, with Downing Street saying the leaders will continue to work to guarantee the base’s future operation. The piece notes the broader U.S.-U.K. security relationship and historical tensions over the sovereignty arrangement.