Trump Says U.S. Will Not Leave Diego Garcia Air Base in Indian Ocean

Trump said the United States will not withdraw from the strategically important air base on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

The U.S. president made the statement on the social media platform Truth Social.

The air base plays a key role in U.S. strategic air operations, including missions in the Middle East.

Donald Trump also held talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on control of the base. He said he understands that the lease agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius is widely viewed as the best possible option.

However, Trump warned that if the lease is violated in the future, or if any actions threaten U.S. forces or operations at the base, he reserves the right to use military measures to ensure security and strengthen the American presence on Diego Garcia.

The U.S. President said he “will not allow the American presence at such an important base to be undermined or put at risk by false claims or environmental nonsense.”

He noted that the air base on the island is of great importance to U.S. national security.

Diego Garcia

The atoll island of Diego Garcia is part of the Chagos Archipelago, which previously belonged to the British Indian Ocean Territory.

In May 2025, the United Kingdom signed an agreement to transfer control of the archipelago to Mauritius.

However, under the agreement, Britain will lease the military base on the island for 99 years, allowing the United States to retain its military air base there.

It was from this air base that U.S. bombers flew combat missions to Afghanistan and Iraq.

In January, Trump criticized the United Kingdom’s decision to transfer the islands to Mauritius. According to him, there is no doubt that China and Russia took note of this ‘act of complete weakness.’