American security interests at Diego Garcia have been woefully sold out by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s naivety towards China and capitulation to international lawfare. President Trump blasted the proposed UK-Mauritius Chagos Islands deal as an act of “great stupidity” and a “show of weakness” to both China and Russia. With the deal in limbo, the United States must act to sink it.

Diego Garcia, located within the Chagos Archipelago, is foundational to the projection of American military might in the Indian Ocean region. There is no other American naval base in the region that can play host to nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, and from which strategic bombers can be launched. As the U.S. Indo-Pacific commander, Admiral Samuel Paparo, expressed, “Continued UK support for the U.S. military presence in Diego Garcia remains critical for U.S. national security.”

Such emphasis has recently also been echoed by Sen. John Kennedy(R-La.) and in Darshana Baruah’s testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Meanwhile, transatlantic security expert Nile Gardiner has gone further, condemning Britain’s “reckless surrender of the Chagos Islands” as “an insult to America” and urging Donald Trump to “sink the deal, just as Margaret Thatcher sank the Belgrano.”

The Diego Garica base has been central in numerous high-stakes U.S. military operations. During the Gulf War, the base launched bombers into Iraq. At least 80% of all explosive munitions dropped in Operation Iraqi Freedom came from Diego Garcia. And yet, somehow, a deal is in the works for Britain to cede control over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a close ally of Communist China.

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The British government called the deal a “commitment to the international rule of law.” However, the ruling from the International Court of Justice was non-binding. If Starmer is truly committed to this dangerous deal he risks surrendering other British Overseas Territories including the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar. Why put on handcuffs?

For America, the deal binds the U.S. to Africa’s nuclear inspections. Mauritius is party to the Pelindaba Treaty of 1996. If Diego Garcia becomes part of Mauritius, it too would be required to remove or disarm any nuclear capabilities. To give up such ground is simply illogical to our own interests in the Indo-Pacific.

Unsurprisingly, China offered “massive congratulations” to Mauritius when the deal was announced. UN data from 2000 to 2025 shows that Mauritius has voted in alignment at the United Nations General Assembly with China 76 percent of the time while only aligning with the U.S. 11 percent of the time. By 2005, China signed seven trade deals with Mauritius, which continued to pour foreign investments into the country. Finally, even more conclusive findings show that China’s foreign aid often results in higher UNGA voting alignment across borders.

China wants influence in Mauritius, which puts Diego Garcia at risk. Based on 2018 data, Chinese banks have lent over $1 billion to 30 investment projects in Mauritius. Meanwhile, one-fifth of Mauritius’ imports year-on-year ($1.17 billion in value) came from China. Even more concerning is Huawei’s $450 million stake in Mauritius’ safe city project, which integrates Chinese surveillance technologies into Mauritian infrastructure. China’s investments, projects, and diplomatic strategy merit concern that must be acted on.

The Chinese government increased its engagement with key Mauritius leaders, including flying 6,000 officials to Beijing last summer for tailored trainings. According to 2025 LDA filings, the American lobbying firm Ryberg and Smith LLC represents several Mauritius entities in Washington, including the Mauritius Sugar Syndicate, the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture, the Mauritius Business Association, and the Mauritius Export Association. It is unclear whether China is lobbying the UK or U.S. through indirect channels, but its influence in Mauritius is significant.

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This influence forms part of a broader pattern of China-UK engagement. Jonathan Powell, Starmer’s national security advisor, played a key role in lobbying Washington on the Chagos deal in 2024. Shortly after the negotiations, he attended a September 2024 conference in China hosted by the Grandview Institution. His membership in the 48 Group Club, an elite network of British politicians promoting closer China-UK ties, raises questions about the influence of Chinese-aligned networks on policy decisions.

The U.S. State Department last year backed Starmer’s Chagos deal, based on a clearly incomplete understanding. A new review of facts has since prompted Washington to withdraw its support. The deal is not dead yet, as confirmed by Lady Chapman, of the Labour Party; the deal has been put on pause. While talks between the U.S. and the UK are still ongoing, the outcome remains fluid and Washington should make absolutely its clear its opposition to this deal.

The bottom line is that sovereignty over Diego Garcia and the Chagos Islands should not be transferred to any third party outside the U.S. and the UK. The stakes are simply too high. To do so would only jeopardize American national security. Sinking the Chagos deal is the best way to protect and strengthen the U.S./UK Special Relationship.