DONALD Trump could yet step in to block Britain’s £8billion handover of the Chagos Islands, Nigel Farage has claimed.

The Reform UK chief said he was “surprised” the US President gave the deal his backing last week.

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The agreement hands sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while UK taxpayers bankroll the lease of the key military base on Diego Garcia.

Speaking in the Oval Office alongside the PM, the US President said it is a “very long-term, powerful lease” and that he is “inclined” to back it.

Farage had previously insisted that three senior members of Trump’s inner circle were personally against the move.

Challenged on air about his previous claims, the Reform leader told LBC: “They (the Americans) probably think the Brits are going to do this anyway, that the Brits are desperate to get rid of the Chagos Islands for some sort of student politics type reason, and that if Britain are going to get rid of it anyway, then this is the best of a bad job.”

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But he insisted the issue isn’t settled yet, adding: “But hey, do you know what? It’s not over yet… He said: ‘We are inclined to support you.’ I think there could be a change and I very much hope there is.”

His comments come amid reports the deal will be sent to Mauritius this week for final approval.

The Chagos Islands are an archipelago that have made headlines after the UK agreed to hand sovereignty over the group to Mauritius. 

One of the islands, Diego Garcia, is especially important when it comes to international politics.

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Diego Garcia is a significant island, because it is home to a UK-US military base. 

The island’s position allows the US to operate across much of the Indo-Pacific region. 

On October 3, 2024, the governments of the UK and Mauritius released a statement announcing that control of the islands would be handed back to Mauritius.