Trump urges UK not to give away Diego Garcia, says US may need island if Iran refuses deal

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - US President Donald Trump urged the United Kingdom on Wednesday not to give away Diego Garcia, warning America may need the island and a British airfield if Iran refuses to make a deal.

"Should Iran decide not to make a deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

The US president said an attack would potentially be made on the UK and other "friendly countries."

Trump said America will always be ready, willing and able to fight for Britain but the UK must remain strong "in the face of wokeism, and other problems put before them."

"Do not give away Diego Garcia," he said.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the post by the president "should be taken as the policy of the" Trump administration.