By OLIVIA CHRISTIE, NEWS REPORTER and MARTIN BECKFORD, POLICY EDITOR
Donald Trump has lashed out at Sir Keir Starmer for making a 'big mistake' in signing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
In an explosive post on Truth Social, the US president demanded the British PM does 'not give away' Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands.
He said the airbase, which is shared with the US, was crucial for possible future airstrikes on Iran if a deal cannot be reached to resolve their nuclear dispute.
Trump's comments are the latest in a series of about-turns from the US President on the Chagos Islands deal, which Labour agreed last year.
He previously called it an act of 'great stupidity', before giving it his approval earlier this month.
The plans would see the UK lease the base on Diego Garcia from Mauritius at a cost of £35 billion over the next century.
On Tuesday, the US State Department said it 'supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago'.
But in his post on Wednesday, Mr Trump said leases were 'no good', adding the base could be necessary for a strike on Iran.
'Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease.
'This land should not be taken away from the UK and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally.
'We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the UK, but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them. Do not give away Diego Garcia.'
Donald Trump has lashed out at Sir Keir Starmer for making a 'big mistake' over the Chagos Islands deal.
Trump's post in full read: '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.
'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.
'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 - An attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly Countries. Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease.
'This land should not be taken away from the U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally.
'We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the U.K., but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them. DO NOT GIVE AWAY DIEGO GARCIA!'
Labour last year transferred UK sovereignty over Chagos to Mauritius in what critics dubbed a 'betrayal' of the British people.
The islands were purchased by the UK for £3million in 1968 but Mauritius argued it was forced to give them away to gain independence from Britain.
Trump's comments come after the Mail revealed a close friend of Sir Keir Starmer shared an £8million pot for his work in negotiating the 'surrender' deal.
Philippe Sands KC, who describes himself as a 'great friend' of the Prime Minister, pocketed his share of the sum while acting as chief legal counsel to Mauritius between 2010 and 2024.
In that time he secured the controversial deal which will see Britain hand back sovereignty of the strategically important archipelago, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, and lease the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years - at an average cost of £101m a year.
Professor Sands, a leading international human rights lawyer who is also close with Attorney General Lord Hermer, led a series of legal teams who were almost exclusively tasked with fighting for the cession of the island to Mauritius.
Together they were allocated at least £8,300,000 from the Mauritian state budget, official documents show.
While the exact figure Professor Sands took home is unknown, his role as chief counsel will have seen him earn the largest cut, according to one international lawyer, who said a large bonus could also be paid on the deal's completion.
Asked how much he was paid, Sands told a House of Lords Committee he 'did not know' but admitted he was 'remunerated, as I am for almost all my cases. It was not done pro bono'.
This is a breaking news story- more to follow