Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has launched a sharp rebuke against former US President Donald Trump, accusing him of deliberately reversing his position on the UK's Chagos Islands agreement with the sole aim of exerting pressure on Britain regarding its stance on Greenland. In a tense exchange at Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir vowed he would not "yield" to what he characterised as political manoeuvring from across the Atlantic.
A Strategic Shift in Rhetoric
Sir Keir pointed to a stark contrast in Mr Trump's public statements. He reminded MPs that during their meeting at the White House, the Republican leader had welcomed the Chagos deal as a "monumental achievement" for securing the future of the Diego Garcia military facility. However, in a series of social media posts on Tuesday, Mr Trump branded the same agreement an "act of great stupidity" and "total weakness."
The Prime Minister was unequivocal in his assessment of this change. "President Trump deployed words on Chagos yesterday that were different to his previous words of welcome and support," Sir Keir stated. "He deployed those words yesterday for the express purpose of putting pressure on me and Britain in relation to my values and principles on the future of Greenland. He wants me to yield on my position, and I'm not going to do so."
Straining a Carefully Cultivated Relationship
This public broadside has significantly strained the diplomatic relationship Sir Keir has worked to build with the Trump administration. The attack came during a week where Mr Trump has also threatened to impose tariffs on allies who object to his controversial plans to annex Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
The Chagos agreement, which involves ceding sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, is designed to provide a firm legal basis for the continued operation of the strategically vital Diego Garcia base. UK ministers argue the deal is necessary following international court rulings favouring Mauritian sovereignty claims, which had threatened the base's long-term future.
Domestic and International Criticism Mounts
The Prime Minister also faced criticism closer to home. He accused Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch of undermining the UK's position by echoing Mr Trump's condemnation of the deal, which she strongly opposes. Mrs Badenoch argued the government was "giving away territory we own and paying £35 billion for the privilege," suggesting the funds would be better spent on the armed forces.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration escalated its criticisms. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking at a press conference in Davos, accused the UK of "letting us down" and suggested Britain would "outsource" national security by transferring sovereignty. "President Trump has made it clear that we will not outsource our national security or our hemispheric security to any other countries," Mr Bessent stated.
Legislative Wrangles and Diplomatic Insistence
The political storm erupted as legislation to finalise the Chagos agreement remains caught in a procedural wrangle between the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Despite Mr Trump's explicit confirmation that he is now "against" the plans, Downing Street has refused to concede that American support has been withdrawn.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister insisted, "As the public would rightly expect, we've negotiated robust security provisions to protect the UK and the base for decades to come. As I said yesterday, our Five Eyes allies support it, and the passage of the Bill continues through Parliament." This stance underscores the government's determination to proceed with the deal despite mounting pressure from a key ally and domestic political opponents.
