Former US President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on the UK government, branding its plan to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius an act of "great stupidity". The surprising criticism, posted on his Truth Social platform, marks a stark reversal from his previously indicated support for the agreement.
The Deal and the Sudden Backlash
In his post, Trump stated there was "no reason whatsoever" for the deal to be struck. He linked it to his long-standing desire for the US to acquire Greenland, calling it "another" national security reason for the acquisition. "Denmark and its European Allies have to DO THE RIGHT THING," he added, directly challenging the UK's key allies.
This intervention has likely blindsided Westminster, given Trump's comments to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a White House visit in February 2025. At that time, Trump told Sir Keir he was "inclined to go with your country" on the matter and had "a feeling it's going to work out very well".
The deal, laid out in principle last year, is currently in its final parliamentary stages, having passed through the House of Lords last week. It was agreed by Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government less than a year after the 2024 election victory, marking a departure from the previous Conservative administration's policy.
What the Chagos Agreement Involves
The core of the agreement sees the UK handing over sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius, while retaining control of the strategically vital UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. In return, the UK secures a 99-year lease on the islands, with continued military use by the US guaranteed.
This arrangement comes at a cost: the UK will pay an average annual fee of £101 million in current prices. The government estimates the total cost over the lease period will reach £3.4 billion.
The islands, currently governed as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), have been under UK control in some form since 1814. In 1965, the UK and US detached them from Mauritius for joint defence purposes, creating a separate colony and forcibly removing the native Chagossian population soon after.
Under the new terms, Mauritius will be free to arrange the resettlement of Chagossians on all islands except Diego Garcia.
Why the Deal Was Struck Now
The UK's sovereignty over the BIOT has faced mounting pressure under international law, a view largely shared by the Chagossian community. A pivotal moment came in 2017, when the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion finding the UK had an "obligation" to end its administration of the islands "as rapidly as possible".
While not legally binding, the judgement created significant political and legal risk. The Labour government argued that acting was "absolutely vital" for the "safety and security of the British people".
A government spokesperson, responding to Trump's comments, defended the deal robustly. "The UK will never compromise on our national security," they said. "We acted because the base on Diego Garcia was under threat after court decisions undermined our position and would have prevented it operating as intended in future."
They emphasised that the agreement "secures the operations of the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia for generations, with robust provisions for keeping its unique capabilities intact and our adversaries out." The spokesperson also noted the deal has been "publicly welcomed by the US, Australia and all other Five Eyes allies, as well as key international partners including India, Japan and South Korea"—a claim now directly contradicted by Trump's latest outburst.
The government's position is that the deal guarantees the Diego Garcia base long-term, averts future legal judgments, and secures the islands against strategic competitors like China.
