With the potential of war drums beating a staccato tattoo in the background, Britain is pausing its plan to shift ownership of an island containing a major U.S. military base to Mauritius.
The Chagos Islands chain contains Diego Garcia, which the U.S. uses as a base for long-range bombers. Because of the island’s importance, President Donald Trump has been urging Britain to maintain ownership of the islands.
The transfer had been considered amid a vast American buildup of military forces in the Middle East that could be used if talks with Iran fail, leading to war between America and Iran.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration will “pause for thought” on moving legislation forward that would transfer ownership of the islands, according toPolitico, which cited an unnamed “senior U.K. government official briefed on the plans.”
Long-term plans for the legislation were unclear. British conservatives oppose the transfer.
Trump recently called on Britain to scrap its plan.
“I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that Leases are no good when it comes to Countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease with whoever it is that is ‘claiming’ Right, Title, and Interest to Diego Garcia, strategically located in the Indian Ocean,” Trump posted onTruth Social.
“Our relationship with the United Kingdom is a strong and powerful one, and it has been for many years, but Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before. In our opinion, they are fictitious in nature,” he wrote.
Trump then explained that if Iran needs to be brought to heel, Diego Garcia is an essential piece of the military puzzle.
“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,” Trump wrote.
Source: VidNews » Feed
