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Boris Johnson and Liz Truss urge Donald Trump to stop Chagos handover

Feb 20, 2026, 6:41 PM20
(Update: Feb 23, 2026, 10:23 AM)
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2019 to 2022
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from September to October 2022
president of the United States from 2017 to 2021
Leader of the Opposition in the United Kingdom since 2020

Boris Johnson and Liz Truss urge Donald Trump to stop Chagos handover

  • Both Boris Johnson and Liz Truss lobbied former US President Donald Trump against the handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
  • Concerns have arisen regarding potential legal action and compensation claims from Mauritius if the UK abandons the agreement.
  • The ongoing situation raises significant implications for UK-US relations, military strategy, and international law.
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The recent interactions involving former British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss have highlighted their lobbying efforts against the UK's planned handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. This situation intensified when Donald Trump criticized the deal, urging Sir Keir Starmer not to relinquish Diego Garcia, which hosts a significant joint military base between the UK and the US. Trump's contradictory views on the agreement seem to mirror the escalating tensions regarding British and American military strategies, particularly concerning Iran. They arose after the UK's decision to withhold permission for US military uses of the Diego Garcia base in the context of heightened threats from Iran. The underlying factors contributing to this diplomatic twist also involve potential legal repercussions for the UK, as it could face substantial compensation claims from Mauritius if the agreement collapses. Additionally, the deal was intended to provide £35 billion over the course of the century, primarily aimed at assisting Mauritius with its financial obligations. Failure to proceed with the transfer may not only jeopardize this financial arrangement but could also provoke legal action from the Mauritian government, leading to further complications in UK-Mauritius relations and Britain's broader international standing. As political figures navigate their strategies, the fate of the islands and the implications for military alliances underscore the precarious nature of international diplomacy, especially regarding issues surrounding sovereignty and military cooperation. This scenario illustrates how geopolitical interests can clash with legal and humanitarian considerations, ultimately leaving questions about the future of such territories and their inhabitants.

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