Iran: The Latest The 'super secret' Chagos island airbase at heart of Trump-Starmer row
Feb 23, 2026
David Blair, chief foreign affairs commentator (The Telegraph), and Ben Judah, former Foreign Office special advisor, unpack the Chagos/Diego Garcia controversy. They lay out why Diego Garcia matters for UK-US access. They trace the island’s control history and legal disputes. They explore US diplomatic pressure, partisan politics around the deal, and the displaced Chagossians' dilemmas.
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Diego Garcia Is Irreplaceable For UK Security
- Diego Garcia hosts a US 'super secret' base whose sensitive capabilities the UK cannot replicate and so Britain feels compelled to retain access.
- Ben Judah explains the base's unique value and why UK policy is driven by security dependency rather than human rights rhetoric.
Chagossian Protest Reignites Human Justice Issue
- The Chagossian displacement remains politically potent: natives oppose the transfer and have staged a new encampment to protest.
- Roland notes four Chagossians landed on an outlying atoll to set up a permanent settlement.
US Pressured UK To Lock In Legal Protection
- Under the Biden administration US officials pushed the UK to strike a sovereignty deal with Mauritius to secure legal protections for the base.
- Ben Judah recounts Washington's fear that without a deal China could gain legal access to the outer islands.