Parliamentarians appeal to President Trump as last resort to block Chagos security surrender
Starmer secures vote in Commons as UK moves one step closer to costly sovereignty handover
Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2025
Over 40 MPs, Peers and security leaders urge Trump to block Chagos Islands handover
Yesterday afternoon the Government’s ‘Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill’ was given its second reading and was passed by 330 to 179, a majority of 151.
With the inevitability of this, on Saturday a letter was received by President Trump signed by more than 40 former British Ministers, MPs, peers, public servants, military veterans, and national security professionals, urging him to step in and use his influence to prevent this catastrophic act of self-harm by the Starmer Government which extends to U.S. interests.
This is about our sovereignty and our national security
Objectively, this Government has been responsible for more threats to national sovereignty in its first six months in office than any we can think of – acts which rapidly accelerated the plans to form the Stand for Our Sovereignty organisation some months ago. Amongst the most egregious and shocking has been the deal which has been signed with the China- and Russia-aligned Mauritian government, surrendering a sovereign British territory to them and paying £34 billion of taxpayers’ money for the pleasure of doing so.
In just two reports, published by Stand for Our Sovereignty, Facts4EU.Org, and the Campaign for an Independent Britain (CIBUK.Org), readers will have all the essential information they need to know about this issue which encapsulates the dangers many see hovering over the country and which threaten our sovereignty, independence, democracy and national security.
Part I: “Dear President Trump, only you can stop this madness now”
A cross-party coalition of more than 40 senior British MPs, peers, former ministers, and national security leaders has appealed directly to U.S. President Trump to intervene in and stop the UK Government’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
In a letter delivered this week by the Great British PAC, and re-published below, the signatories warn that the move would “gravely undermine” both UK and U.S. security interests by threatening the future of the Diego Garcia military base, a facility described as the cornerstone of America’s nuclear and naval power projection in the Indian Ocean.
The group argues that transferring the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius would place Diego Garcia under the jurisdiction of a state bound by the Pelindaba Treaty, Africa’s nuclear-weapon-free zone agreement. They warn this could create “dangerous legal ambiguity” over U.S. nuclear-capable operations, exposing them to challenges from China, Russia, or international bodies.
The letter states:
“Mr. President, you have built your reputation on refusing to cede strategic ground to those who would weaken America. We urge you to use your influence, publicly and privately, and your prerogatives under the U.S.–UK defence agreement of 1966 to oppose this surrender and to ensure that Diego Garcia remains exempt from any constraint under the Pelindaba Treaty.”
Among the high-profile signatories are former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, former Home Secretary Suella Braverman KC MP, and Lord Jack, who served as Secretary of State for Scotland between 2019 and 2024. A Labour MP, peers, military veterans, legal experts, and national security specialists have also added their names.
Claire Bullivant, CEO of the Great British PAC and organiser of the letter, said:
“If this deal goes through, it will not only weaken Britain but also gravely undermine America’s ability to defend the free world from adversaries.
Diego Garcia is too strategically important to be put at risk. President Trump is our hope in stopping this dangerous surrender.”
- Claire Bullivant, 10 Sept 2025
The Labour Government previously estimated the cost of the handover at £3.4 billion, but the TaxPayers’ Alliance warned this week it more likely to be approximately £47 billion because of higher-than-expected inflation and long-term lease costs. The UK is expected to surrender sovereignty of the islands by the end of the year, while leasing back the Diego Garcia base for 99 years.
Leigh Evans, Chairman of the Campaign for an Independent Britain (CIBUK) and of the fast-growing Stand for Our Sovereignty campaign, said:
“This is not just a diplomatic blunder, it is a financial and security disaster. Surrendering the Chagos Islands would hand Beijing and Moscow a strategically-important opening in the Indian Ocean at a time when the West can least afford it. It also represents yet another handover of UK sovereignty for no other reason than an apparent desire to appeal to the international legal crusade, with no thought for the interests of the British people.”
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Jim Allister KC MP added:
“The government is pushing ahead with reckless speed on a matter of the highest national security. President Trump must be made aware of all the facts, not the version given by this government.
If Diego Garcia is weakened, the entire Western alliance is weakened with it.”
- Jim Allister KC MP, commenting to Facts4EU.Org, Stand for Our Sovereignty, and CIBUK.Org, 10 Sept 2025
The President's visit to the UK
The timing of the letter is seen as significant. President Trump is due to arrive in Britain shortly for a state visit, during which he will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for talks.
According to No 10, Trump had initially signalled support for the deal earlier this year, telling Starmer in February that he was “inclined to go with your country” and that he had “a feeling it’s going to work out very well.” However, critics hope the latest appeal will persuade him to harden his stance and block the plan. Naturally the President’s team was briefed by the Government and by FCDO officials and it is hoped that once he is made aware of all the facts he will form a very different view.
The Labour Government scheduled a second reading of the Chagos transfer bill yesterday (9 September 2025), despite a judicial review due in November. Critics argue the rushed timetable is designed to force the deal through before opposition can mobilise. We will be covering yesterday’s key debate in tomorrow’s report.
The coalition is now urging Trump to use his influence to ensure the handover is stopped
Below is a copy of the letter to President Trump. Simply click on the image to read it as a PDF.
© Great British PAC 2025 - click to read
Observations
As ever, we are grateful to our colleague Claire Bullivant, a tower of energetic inspiration and CEO of the Great British PAC, with whom we work closely. Claire is also a Vice-President of SStand for Our Sovereignty and we commend her for organising this letter.
It is our strong belief that with his focus on delivering for the American people during his first months in office, President Trump will have relied on the information given by Sir Keir Starmer’s government and from its FCDO officials, all of whom are, it must be said, of the ‘internationalist’ persuasion.
Once he has been made aware of the full implications of this deal for U.S. security and for its ability to continue to use the Diego Garcia base entirely unhindered by the Mauritian government and its Chinese, Russian, and Iranian backers, the President may see things rather differently.
It is looking increasingly likely, now the second reading of the Government’s Bill has taken place, that President Trump may be our last hope.
That said, we will of course carry on fighting for what is right. With that in mind, we badly need your support.
Please, please help us to carry on our vital work in defence of independence, sovereignty, democracy and freedom by donating today. Thank you.
[ Sources: House of Commons Hansard | The Great British PAC ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.
Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Wed 10 Sept 2025
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