A senior US Senator has revealed how he personally urged President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to intervene over what he branded the potential “surrender” of the Chagos Islands.
Speaking to Nigel Farage on GB News, Senator John Kennedy said he warned the President that backing the UK Government’s proposed handover to Mauritius would be a “huge mistake”, insisting the move would threaten both British and American security interests.
Speaking to The People's Channel, Mr Kennedy said: "I don’t make a habit of interfering in the affairs of the United Kingdom.
"I have great respect for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland all 70 million of you. I lived in your country and went to school there.
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“But this decision by the Prime Minister affects America, and it certainly affects the good people of the UK.
"You did a good job explaining why it’s nonsensical. I honestly don’t know why Prime Minister Starmer insists on doing this, other than the fact that he feels guilty as if the people of the UK ought to feel guilty about their history.
“I think the people of the United Kingdom should feel gratitude and pride for their history.
“I spoke to President Trump two days ago. When he first agreed with the Prime Minister to let this go forward, I had already given a number of speeches on the Senate floor.
The US Senator said that he had made a personal plea to the US President
|GB NEWS
"I called the President and said, ‘Mr President, with respect, you’re making a huge mistake.’ He said his advisers were telling him to do it. I never gave up.
“A week or so ago, the President reversed himself. Two days ago, I called him again and said, ‘Mr President, please don’t back up. Go forward. Write the letter.’
“I spoke to Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday, Marco is an old friend, and asked him to urge the President to be firm. Marco told me a conversation will shortly take place between the President and the Prime Minister.
“For the sake of the American people, and the good people of the United Kingdom, Mr Starmer if you’re listening please, please, please don’t give away the Chagos Islands.
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Donald Trump blasted the deal on Truth Social
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"As I said in my speech, it’s dumb. I have rocks in my driveway that are smarter than what you’re proposing to do.”
This comes as a GB News exclusive revealed that the US State Department is to "imminently" write to Sir Keir and the Foreign Office as part of a major intervention on the Chagos Island deal.
Robert Midgley from Friends of the British Overseas Territories told The Late Show Live an official communication would soon hit the desk of the Prime Minister outlining an official change in the US position.
The islands in the Indian Ocean, which host a UK-US military base on the largest island of Diego Garcia, will be handed over to Mauritius under the deal.
Britain will lease back the military base on the island of Diego Garcia, which is jointly used with the US, for at least 99 years, while making payments to Mauritius.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially suggested the US backed the agreement, but two weeks ago the President appeared to signal a change of heart on social media, describing the deal as an "act of great stupidity".
He said: "Shockingly, our 'brilliant' Nato ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital US Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so for no reason whatsoever.
"There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness."
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