Podcast Summary: Securing America with Frank Gaffney

Episode Date: January 31, 2026
Host: Frank Gaffney
Notable Guests: Cleo Pascal, Colonel Grant Newsham, Robert Midgley, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki

Episode Overview

This episode of "Securing America with Frank Gaffney" centers on urgent geopolitical developments impacting U.S. and allied security. The first half dives deep into the controversy surrounding the potential transfer of Diego Garcia and the Chagos Islands from Britain to Mauritius, exposing dangers of eventual Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean. The later segments shift to the Middle East, focusing on the aftermath of Israel’s hostage recovery from Gaza, implications of Trump's 20-point peace plan, and escalating tensions with Iran.

Gaffney, alongside expert guests, offers analysis, inside knowledge, and a passionate call to action—aimed squarely at policymakers and engaged citizens concerned about American and Western strategic interests.

Key Topics & Insights

1. The Diego Garcia Controversy

Main Points:

• The Starmer government in the UK is pushing to cede sovereignty of Diego Garcia and the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
• The U.S. and UK have used Diego Garcia as a critical military base for decades; its loss would represent a strategic disaster.
• There is strong suspicion that after Mauritius, China would inevitably secure influence or control—threatening Western security interests in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean.

Strategic Importance of Diego Garcia

• Described as a "speck of land in the wide ocean" but crucial for projecting military power into the Middle East, Africa, and across South and East Asia.
• Deep-water port, airstrip for strategic bombers, refueling for nuclear submarines.
• "If this goes through...this would be like losing Hawaii in terms of its military usefulness. ...You cannot overstate the importance of it. To give that up voluntarily or to allow that to happen is, is insanity." – Colonel Grant Newsham (08:03)

Risks Identified:

• Chinese political and military “domination” of the region if they move in.
• Mauritius is party to anti-nuclear treaties (Pelindaba Treaty) forbidding storage of nuclear weapons, directly harming U.S. operational flexibility.
• The deal is unpopular even within the UK; many British military leaders and officials are now on record against it.

Procedural & Political Landscape

• The UK’s Labour government has the numbers to force the bill through Parliament, though recent U.S. intervention and growing public opposition may slow or halt the process.
• The U.S. maintains veto power on amendments due to treaty clauses, but action is urgently required.

Notable Quotes:

• "Why would you voluntarily give up just an excellent piece of real estate that has served very, very well?" – Colonel Grant Newsham (23:26)
• “This has been really damaging for US-UK relations. ...Members of the Trump administration who were manipulated or lied to will not forget it.” – Cleo Pascal (24:21)

2. Inside the UK Debate: Robert Midgley’s Intervention

Main Points:

• Robert Midgley (ex-UK government advisor, now with Friends of British Overseas Territories) details a last-minute British effort to raise awareness and block the cession.
• Describes the lease-back arrangement as an “absolutely outrageous” plan in which the UK would give away the islands for free and then rent back the base at massive expense.
• Warns of the bill’s precarious status—temporarily suspended, but could be forced through parliament at any moment.

Parliamentary Run-Down:

• Passed Commons due to Labour’s majority; now in the Lords, where a Conservative majority is trying to amend or block.
• UK government may override Lords using the Parliament Act—though this is rare.

US Leverage:

• The 1966 treaty gives the US power to delay or block changes; a formal US government letter is needed to force the UK to withdraw.

Notable Quotes:

• "If the UK doesn't make that payment after a month, Mauritius can say, 'get off our sovereign territory then,' which means losing that whole territory, that entire most essential military base in the world." – Robert Midgley (31:06)
• “What we need right now is the US to put in formal writing that this needs to be withdrawn. ...This is too much of a security threat.” – Robert Midgley (35:44)

3. Geopolitical Stakes in the Indo-Pacific

China’s Playbook in Mauritius:

• Cleo Pascal outlines how China is already sowing influence in Mauritius through financial, criminal, and coercive means—mirroring its tactics in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Seychelles.
• The risk: Mauritius opens the door to PRC military and intelligence, undermining both U.S. and Indian strategic posture.

Implications for Allies:

• The Diego Garcia episode is framed as a warning of what happens when allies fail to defend their own interests ("Look at Hong Kong now. It's basically a prison." – Colonel Newsham, 16:45).
• Raises broader concerns for U.S. outposts and dependencies, including Greenland and French overseas territories.

4. Middle East Focus: Gaza, Israel, & Iran

Hostage Recovery & Trump’s Peace Plan

• Israel’s retrieval of the last hostage remains from Gaza heralds a possible next phase in the Trump-negotiated 20-point plan.
• Rabbi Pesach Wolicki provides a nuanced reading: The plan’s “phases” are blurry; dismantling and disarming Hamas is a required first step before any wider political or reconstruction moves.
• Israeli politics: There’s no domestic mandate for withdrawal from Gaza unless Hamas is fully defeated. Netanyahu cannot survive politically unless this objective is met.

Notable Moments:

• “The day that they decided to place the release of all the hostages on par with the objective of destroying Hamas…strategically speaking, [these] are actually… mutually exclusive.” – Rabbi Pesach Wolicki (45:07)
• "There is not a single Israeli alive or dead being held by Hamas in Gaza is almost a utopian ideal for many Israelis. It lifts this emotional burden..." – Rabbi Pesach Wolicki (46:09)

Iran’s Brutal Crackdown and US/Israeli Response

• Widespread regime violence against Iranian protesters sparks international outrage; reported casualties range from 6,000 to potentially over 60,000.
• Trump’s warnings to Iran and visible US military deployments signal intent for possible military intervention if the brutality continues.
• Israel asserts its independence and readiness to act with or without US coordination; Netanyahu warns Iran of catastrophic consequences if Israel is attacked.
• Discussion of practical constraints: Regime change in Iran isn’t a matter of toppling a despot, it’s about dismantling a deeply embedded system akin to the CCP.

Notable Quotes:

• “If Iran chooses to make that mistake and attack Israel, they will suffer a blow even beyond what they could imagine.” – Rabbi Pesach Wolicki paraphrasing Netanyahu (52:55)
• “[Trump] doesn’t want to end up looking like another Obama who blinked and backed off when he made an empty threat. ...Moving all these military assets into the region really points to the fact that there is a plan to move forward.” – Rabbi Pesach Wolicki (55:24)

Selected Timestamps of Key Segments

• [03:01] – Frank Gaffney’s monologue on UK-China appeasement and Diego Garcia
• [06:42] – Cleo Pascal explains Diego Garcia’s strategic value
• [08:03] – Col. Newsham likens losing Diego Garcia to losing Hawaii
• [09:59] – Cleo Pascal on UK political motives & Chagossian perspective
• [12:00] – Newsham on dangers of anti-nuclear clauses
• [15:45] – Return from break: Why nuclear flexibility matters on Diego Garcia
• [17:35] – Historical British guarantees and why trust is strained
• [20:41] – China’s encroachment in Mauritius detailed
• [23:26] – Final appeals: “This would be an act of really defense suicide.”
• [27:13] – Robert Midgley on the UK’s internal legislative and political battle
• [35:44] – Midgley’s call to action: US must formally oppose the deal
• [42:30] – Gaza update: Israel’s hostages, Trump plan, and strategic dilemma
• [45:07] – Wolicki: Hostage release and Hamas removal are mutually exclusive goals
• [52:55] – Iran crackdown: US/Israel responses and escalation risks
• [55:24] – Wolicki on US signals and military build-up in the region
• [57:21] – US-Israel coordination: Netanyahu’s message of independence

Memorable Quotes

• “This would be like losing Hawaii...” – Col. Grant Newsham (08:03)
• “You cannot have two primary goals... the goal of defeating Hamas... and the goal of returning all the hostages are... mutually exclusive.” – Rabbi Pesach Wolicki (45:07)
• “Look at Hong Kong now. It’s basically a prison.” – Col. Grant Newsham (16:45)
• "What we need right now is the US to put in formal writing that this needs to be withdrawn. ...This is too much of a security threat." – Robert Midgley (35:44)
• “...If Iran chooses to make that mistake and attack Israel, they will suffer a blow...beyond what they could imagine.” – Rabbi Pesach Wolicki, paraphrasing Netanyahu (52:55)

Conclusion & Calls to Action

• The episode presents Diego Garcia as a critical test of Western unity and resolve: allowing China a foothold is deemed a “defense suicide.”
• Urgent calls for formal U.S. opposition to UK cession plans—seen as vital to regional and global security.
• On the Middle East front, Israel and the US must remain firm in their objectives in Gaza and vigilant in their response to Iran.
• The show ends with an emphatic reminder that strategic vigilance, clear-headed alliances, and public pressure are crucial in defending America and the free world.

“Why would you voluntarily give up just an excellent piece of real estate that has served very, very well?”
– Col. Grant Newsham (23:26)