Editorial & Advertiser disclosure

Global Banking and Finance Review is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.

Home > Headlines > UK, US agree Chagos air base is of strategic importance after Trump criticism of deal

UK, US agree Chagos air base is of strategic importance after Trump criticism of deal

Published by Global Banking and Finance Review

Posted on February 3, 2026

2 min read

Last updated: February 3, 2026

UK, US agree Chagos air base is of strategic importance after Trump criticism of deal - Headlines news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review

Tags:President UK economy

Quick Summary

UK PM Starmer spoke with US President Trump about Ukraine amid Russian attacks and strategic military concerns, highlighting Diego Garcia's importance.

UK and US Acknowledge Strategic Value of Chagos Air Base Amid Trump Critique

Strategic Importance of the Chagos Air Base

Feb 3 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump recognised the "strategic importance" of the U.S.-UK air base in the Chagos Archipelago and will work closely to guarantee its operation, Downing Street said on Tuesday.

Trump's Criticism of the Sovereignty Deal

Last month, Trump criticised Britain's 2025 deal to cede sovereignty of the archipelago - including an island with the Diego Garcia base - as an act of "total weakness" and "great stupidity".

Historical Context of the Chagossians

Trump and Starmer spoke on Tuesday and "agreed their governments would continue working closely to guarantee the future operation of the base and speak again soon," Downing Street said in a statement.

Recent Military Operations from Diego Garcia

Labour's Starmer had built a solid relationship with Republican Trump, becoming the first leader to secure a deal to lower some tariffs, but that has been shaken by disagreement over Trump's ambitions to buy Greenland and the Chagos islands furore.

Washington had last year given its blessing to the deal, which gave the Indian Ocean islands to Britain's former colony Mauritius but retained UK control of Diego Garcia under a 99-year lease.

The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the UK statement.

The Chagos' six main atolls, among more than 600 islands, lie 500 km (300 miles) south of the Maldives and halfway between Africa and Indonesia, with about 4,000 people stationed there.

Britain forcibly displaced up to 2,000 indigenous Chagossians in the late 1960s and 1970s to establish the base on the Diego Garcia atoll.

Recent operations launched from Diego Garcia include bombing strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in 2024 and 2025 and humanitarian aid deployments to Gaza.

(Reporting by Natalia Bueno Rebolledo in Mexico City and Catarina Demony in London; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

Key Takeaways

•Prime Minister Starmer discussed Ukraine with President Trump.
•Russian attacks have impacted Ukrainian cities including Kyiv.
•Ukrainian negotiators are in Abu Dhabi for trilateral talks.
•The strategic importance of Diego Garcia was acknowledged.
•The call reflects ongoing international military strategy discussions.

Frequently Asked Questions about UK, US agree Chagos air base is of strategic importance after Trump criticism of deal

1What is military strategy?

Military strategy refers to the planning and execution of military operations and the overall management of military resources to achieve specific objectives during conflicts.

2What is a military base?

A military base is a facility owned and operated by the armed forces, used for the storage of equipment, training of personnel, and deployment of military operations.

Strategic Importance of the Chagos Air Base

Trump's Criticism of the Sovereignty Deal

Last month, Trump criticised Britain's 2025 deal to cede sovereignty of the archipelago - including an island with the Diego Garcia base - as an act of "total weakness" and "great stupidity".

Historical Context of the Chagossians

Recent Military Operations from Diego Garcia

Washington had last year given its blessing to the deal, which gave the Indian Ocean islands to Britain's former colony Mauritius but retained UK control of Diego Garcia under a 99-year lease.

The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the UK statement.

The Chagos' six main atolls, among more than 600 islands, lie 500 km (300 miles) south of the Maldives and halfway between Africa and Indonesia, with about 4,000 people stationed there.

Britain forcibly displaced up to 2,000 indigenous Chagossians in the late 1960s and 1970s to establish the base on the Diego Garcia atoll.

Recent operations launched from Diego Garcia include bombing strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in 2024 and 2025 and humanitarian aid deployments to Gaza.

(Reporting by Natalia Bueno Rebolledo in Mexico City and Catarina Demony in London; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

Key Takeaways

•Prime Minister Starmer discussed Ukraine with President Trump.

•Russian attacks have impacted Ukrainian cities including Kyiv.

•Ukrainian negotiators are in Abu Dhabi for trilateral talks.

•The strategic importance of Diego Garcia was acknowledged.

•The call reflects ongoing international military strategy discussions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1What is military strategy?

Military strategy refers to the planning and execution of military operations and the overall management of military resources to achieve specific objectives during conflicts.

2What is a military base?

A military base is a facility owned and operated by the armed forces, used for the storage of equipment, training of personnel, and deployment of military operations.