Trump says he is likely to accept UK deal on Chagos Islands

President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was inclined to back a deal between Britain and Mauritius over the future of a U.S.-UK military base in the Chagos Islands, in a boost for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Trump signaled his backing for the deal as he met Starmer at the White House for their first in-person talks since the Republican leader upended U.S. policy on a number of areas, from Ukraine to global trade. Britain struck the agreement in October to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while retaining control under a 99-year lease of the military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island of the archipelago in the Indian Ocean.