Former British army chief Lord Dannatt has called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to abandon plans to cede control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, suggesting instead that the UK should hand them over to the United States—potentially under Donald Trump’s leadership. As The Independent UK reports, the former general sharply criticized the deal, arguing it offers little benefit to Britain and could cost taxpayers billions.
Speaking to Times Radio, Lord Dannatt expressed concerns over the financial burden of the agreement, which reportedly involves an estimated £18 billion leaseback arrangement to retain control of Diego Garcia, the strategically crucial joint US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean. “If we think we can find £18 billion to buy off Mauritius, frankly, there are much better uses for that money—especially on the army and UK defense,” he said.
The deal, which the UK government insists is necessary to comply with international legal rulings, has drawn scrutiny from Washington. With expectations mounting that Trump could veto the arrangement should he return to the White House, Lord Dannatt questioned why Starmer’s government continues down this path. “No wonder President Trump is concerned, to the point of being angry with Britain,” he remarked.
Instead of transferring sovereignty to Mauritius, the peer suggested that Britain should explore ceding the islands directly to the US, a move he believes aligns with American security interests. Comparing the situation to Trump’s past interest in acquiring Greenland, Lord Dannatt said, “You could actually make the case that, rather like Greenland, if Trump is worried about security, he should take control of it himself.”
The Chagos Islands, particularly Diego Garcia, are of immense strategic importance to both the UK and the US, serving as a key military hub for operations in the Indo-Pacific region. The UK government has maintained that it must honor legal rulings on sovereignty, but Lord Dannatt’s remarks indicate growing opposition to the deal within British defense circles.
