Trump Slams UK Over Chagos Islands Deal In Escalating Row

The British government’s decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has erupted into a full-blown diplomatic row, with U.S. President Donald Trump publicly lambasting the move as an “act of total weakness” and “great stupidity.” The controversy—unfolding against a backdrop of tense transatlantic relations and Trump’s ongoing campaign to acquire Greenland—has thrown the future of the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base into the international spotlight, while raising questions about the balance of security, sovereignty, and historical justice in the Indian Ocean.

On January 20, 2026, President Trump took to his Truth Social platform to vent his frustration, declaring, “Shockingly, our ‘brilliant’ NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.” He went further, warning, “There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness. These are International Powers who only recognize STRENGTH, which is why the United States of America, under my leadership, is now, after only one year, respected like never before.” According to Reuters, Trump’s remarks tied the Chagos Islands decision directly to his argument that the United States must acquire Greenland to counter global rivals.

The Chagos Islands, a remote Indian Ocean archipelago under British control since 1814, have long been a point of contention. In 1965, Britain split the islands from Mauritius, then a British colony, and forcibly evicted around 2,000 Chagossians to make way for the U.S.-UK military installation on Diego Garcia. Today, Diego Garcia hosts about 2,500 mainly American personnel and is described by the U.S. as “an all but indispensable platform” for operations in the Middle East, South Asia, and East Africa, according to the Associated Press.

The roots of the current dispute date back to May 2025, when the UK and Mauritius signed a landmark agreement transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after over two centuries of British rule. Under the deal, Britain will pay Mauritius at least 120 million pounds (about $160 million) annually to lease back Diego Garcia and ensure continued operation of the joint U.S.-UK base for at least 99 years. The agreement emerged after international legal challenges—spearheaded by the United Nations and its top court—urged Britain to return the islands to Mauritius. The UK government has argued that the deal was necessary to protect the security of the base from further legal threats, a point echoed by a government spokesperson: “The UK will never compromise on our national security. This deal secures the operations of the joint U.S.-UK base on Diego Garcia for generations, with robust provisions for keeping its unique capabilities intact and our adversaries out.”

Despite the initial support from Washington, Trump’s recent outburst marks a sharp reversal. The UK government was quick to point out that the Trump administration had “publicly welcomed” the Chagos Islands deal in May 2025, including a statement by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. As reported by The Evening Standard, Trump himself appeared to support the agreement during a February 2025 meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, stating, “I have a feeling it’s going to work out very well. They’re talking about a very long-term, powerful lease, a very strong lease, about 140 years.”

British senior minister Darren Jones, speaking on January 20, 2026, defended the government’s position, telling Times Radio, “The treaty has already been signed… What we have put in place is to secure that base 100 years by essentially leasing it and that protects our military capabilities in that important part of the world, both for us and for the Americans.” Jones stressed that legislation was moving through Parliament and that the deal was “the best option for the military base, allowing it to operate for the next 100 years.”

Yet the agreement has drawn fierce criticism from British opposition parties and right-wing figures. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer’s Labour government of weakening UK security, posting on X that Trump is “right” and that the plan “is a terrible policy that weakens UK security and hands away our sovereign territory. And to top it off, makes us and our NATO allies weaker in the face of our enemies.” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a Trump ally, echoed these sentiments, declaring, “Thank goodness Trump has vetoed the surrender of the Chagos Islands.”

Some critics see the deal as opening the door to interference by China and Russia. Others, like Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden, suggest Trump’s outrage is less about Chagos and more about Greenland, where Trump’s ambitions have been met with resistance from European allies. “I don’t really believe this is about Chagos. I think it’s about Greenland,” McFadden told the Associated Press, alluding to the wider context of Trump’s foreign policy maneuvers.

The diplomatic spat has also exposed cracks in the previously cordial relationship between Trump and Prime Minister Starmer. Starmer, who has worked to build ties with Trump—including securing a deal to lower some tariffs—has found his approach tested by the U.S. president’s unpredictability. In response to Trump’s Greenland rhetoric, Starmer called the statements “completely wrong,” but urged that the rift be “resolved through calm discussion.”

Meanwhile, the international community is watching closely. French President Emmanuel Macron has offered to host a G7 meeting in Paris, inviting Trump and other leaders to discuss the escalating tensions, while also questioning Trump’s intentions regarding Greenland. EU leaders are set to convene in Brussels for an emergency summit following Trump’s threats to impose new tariffs on several European countries, including the UK, over the Greenland issue. France is reportedly preparing “bazooka” retaliatory measures should the tariffs materialize.

Amid the geopolitical wrangling, the fate of the Chagossian people—an estimated 10,000 displaced islanders and their descendants, now living mainly in Britain, Mauritius, and Seychelles—remains a poignant subplot. Many were not consulted about the agreement and fear the deal may further complicate their long-standing campaign to return home. The UK-Mauritius deal does include provisions for a resettlement fund to help displaced islanders return to parts of the archipelago other than Diego Garcia, but the promise of justice remains uncertain for many.

As the legislation approving the agreement faces continued debate in Parliament, including strong opposition in the House of Lords, the future of Diego Garcia and the Chagos Islands is far from settled. The episode serves as a vivid reminder of how historical grievances, strategic interests, and the unpredictability of global politics can collide—sometimes explosively—on the world stage.