Britain accused Donald Trump of changing his mind over the Chagos Islands as it vowed to press ahead with a deal with Mauritius.
Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones insisted that the Government was prioritising the UK’s national security ahead of Trump’s foreign policy statements after he launched a stinging attack on the UK over the future of the Diego Garcia military base.
Ms Davies-Jones, on the media round for the Government, told Times Radio: “It’s really important to note that during his first meeting with President Trump, the Prime Minister reiterated this deal, and President Trump backed it. He said that this lease was a strong lease.
“Just two weeks ago, the President again backed this and said that it was the best deal available.
“And just this week, the US administration again reaffirmed their commitment to the deal.”
She added: “Look, this is about ensuring British security, national security, and ensuring that the base is there for the long term, for the British public, and that is the utmost priority for the Government.”
She stressed the Government would press ahead with legislation on the Chagos Islands deal as soon as parliamentary time allowed.
Talks with Washington would continue, she added, after Trump launched his latest attack on the proposed agreement over the islands.
In withering remarks, the US president warned Sir Keir Starmer not to give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
He hit out just a day after the US said it approved of the deal.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Sir Keir would be making "a big mistake" if he proceeded with plans to hand over the islands, home to a joint US-UK military base.
The plans would see the UK lease the base on Diego Garcia from Mauritius at a cost of £35 billion over the next century.
On Tuesday, the US State Department said it "supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago".
But in his post on Wednesday, Trump said leases were "no good", adding the base could be necessary for a strike on Iran.
He said: "Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease.
"This land should not be taken away from the UK and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally.
"We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the UK, but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them. Do not give away Diego Garcia."
The shadow foreign secretary said the president’s latest comments were "an utter humiliation" for the Prime Minister.
Dame Priti Patel said: "President Trump has once again publicly rebuked Keir Starmer and his Government over their ill-judged, unnecessary and expensive Chagos Surrender. This is an utter humiliation for Starmer.”
Recent international court decisions have threatened the future of the base, the government said.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: "The deal to secure the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia is crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe.”
