Former White House strategist Steve Bannon has described any potential handover as a "non-starter" and warned Donald Trump's Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks set to reject David Lammy's proposal.
Bannon issued the stark warnings to the Labour Government about the strategic implications of any potential Chagos Islands deal and how such a deal is "incomprehensible".
Speaking to GB News, the former White House strategist emphasised Diego Garcia's crucial role in US military operations across the Indo-Pacific region.
"It is a central asset in the overall geo-strategic outlook of the Indian Ocean, strategy in the Pacific, the Indo-Pacific, India and South Asia is now central to really the containment of China," Bannon said.
Bannon said the Chagos deal is 'incomprehensible'
GBNA
He highlighted the base's unique position as a vital stopover point in the vast Indian Ocean.
"If you don't have Diego Garcia from the Australians, the Royal Navy that's there in the American Navy, it's taking a major strategic territory," he warned.
Bannon expressed disbelief that such a transfer was even being considered.
"I'm actually shocked and stunned that it even could be conceived," he said, adding that the base is "the one thing you can pull into and it's under us".
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The deal will see the UK hand over the Chagos Islands to MauritiusGettyThe former Trump advisor suggested that Mauritius's ties to China's Belt and Road Initiative posed additional concerns.
"What the British East India Company did in building their network... The CCP's kind of run a reverse British East India Company strategy," he explained.
Bannon warned that any transfer of Diego Garcia would effectively hand control to China.
"If you give it up, you're giving it to the Chinese Communist Party, and we can never allow that to happen," he told GB News.
Bannon told GBNA that Secretary Rubio will 'inform Lammy that the deal is a non-starter'
GBNA
He revealed that Senator Marco Rubio is expected to intervene in the matter. "I believe that Secretary Marco Rubio is going to inform foreign Minister Lammy that this is a nonstarter," Bannon said.
The former strategist emphasised the base's critical logistical importance. "It's basically an ocean desert... You have one little essentially refuelling station and a place to keep weapons to restock, refuel," he explained.
"I'm not saying there's corruption or kickbacks, but somebody has to check this thing out," Bannon stated.
He dismissed concerns about Mauritius's claims to the territory. "Mauritius, it's not run by Jeffersonian Democrats, and it is in hock to the Chinese Communist Party," he said.
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