Washington: US President Donald Trump affirmed on Thursday that Diego Garcia Island is a major and strategic US military base. Trump indicated via the “Truth Social” platform that “the island is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean and is important to US national security, and that he reserves the right to strengthen the military presence if the lease agreement is threatened.”

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Trump rejected “undermining or threatening the military presence with false claims or environmental allegations,” as he put it. In October 2024, Britain announced an agreement to transfer autonomy over the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, including Diego Garcia Island, to Mauritius. The agreement was signed in May 2025.

A joint British-American military base is located on the island, and under the terms of the agreement, London will retain control for 99 years.