Trump Says Diego Garcia Deal ‘Best’ UK Could Do in New Shift (1)

US President Donald Trump indicated he was backing off his criticism of a British deal to turn over control of Chagos Islands, saying he would move to “secure” the US military presence there if the arrangement ever collapses.

Trump on Thursday posted on social media that he had held “very productive discussions” with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer about the agreement to return sovereignty of the island to Mauritius and lease back the military base at Diego Garcia.

Chagos Islands

Photographer: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

“I understand that the deal Prime Minister Starmer has made, according to many, the best he could make,” Trump posted. “However, ...