Sir Keir Starmer has been left bracing for a “fight” against his proposed Chagos deal just moments after Donald Trump appeared to throw his weight behind the “sell-out” accord.
The Prime Minister, who left the Oval Office with plenty to smile about last night, was left buoyed by Trump’s comments on the Indian Ocean archipelago.
Trump hinted at Mauritius conceding to a 140-year lease for the strategically significant Diego Garcia military base.
Speaking from the Oval Office, the 47th 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.”
Sir Keir Starmer alongside Donald Trump
PA
However, those concerned with the current arrangements almost immediately vowed to step up efforts to prevent a handover.
Tory peer Lord Ross Kempsell said: “The fight to maintain UK sovereignty over Chagos is not over – not least as Chagossians themselves have been completely erased from Starmer’s sellout.
“Many around the President remain deeply concerned about this deal – including some present in the Oval Office. Now we go harder.”
Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe added: “The Chagos Islands deal is disgustingly rotten to the core. It does NOT serve the British taxpayer.
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Chagos IslandsFlickr/PA“It’s about human rights lawyers abusing their power to indulge their fantasies.
“It’s a betrayal. I hope that Donald Trump reconsiders his support for it. On this, he is wrong.”
Despite warnings about the struggle for the Chagos Islands continuing, those hoping that Trump would veto the proposed deal were dealt a hammer blow.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who joined Starmer on his visit to Washington, had admitted that Trump held a veto on the deal ahead of the trip.
Donald Trump and Nigel FarageNIGEL FARAGEHowever, even close allies of the 47th President appeared to have been blindsided by Trump’s support for Starmer’s proposal.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who counts Trump as a political friend, was even open to letting the US buy the Indian Ocean archipelago off of Britain.
Speaking in the House of Commons just hours before Starmer flew across the pond, Farage said: “I would love to see the American administration veto this terrible deal, but I’m not even sure then that this Government will move its position.
“They are clearly hellbent on giving away the Chagos Islands, whatever the risks to global security, whatever the risks to our own budgetary constraints, and having ignored completely the will of the majority of the Chagossian people.
“If that’s the case, I would rather see America have the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands than a corrupt Mauritius.”