UK defends Chagos deal after Trump attacks agreement

The British government on Tuesday defended its decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, insisting the agreement secures the future of a vital US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean, despite sharp criticism from United States President Donald Trump.

Trump described the deal as “great stupidity,” marking a notable shift from his earlier endorsement of the agreement when it was signed in May 2025.

“The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, linking the decision to what he described as broader national security concerns involving Greenland.

The Chagos agreement provides for Britain to transfer sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while leasing the strategically important Diego Garcia military base for 99 years at an annual cost of £101 million.

Responding to Trump’s comments, Downing Street said the deal guarantees the long-term operation of the joint US-UK base.

“This deal secures the operations of the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia for generations, with robust provisions to protect its capabilities and keep adversaries out,” a government spokesperson said.

The UK government added that the agreement had previously received backing from the United States and key allies, including Australia, India, Japan and South Korea.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier welcomed the deal, saying it ensured the “long-term, stable, and effective operation” of the military facility.

UK Cabinet Minister Darren Jones said the treaty had already been signed and was in the final stages of parliamentary approval.

“The treaty has been signed with the Mauritian government. We can’t reverse the clock on that,” he said.

Britain retained control of the Chagos Islands after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s, but forcibly relocated thousands of islanders — a move that has since attracted international condemnation and legal challenges.

In 2019, the International Court of Justice advised the UK to hand the territory back to Mauritius, a ruling London eventually accepted amid mounting legal pressure.

The agreement has divided opinion within the UK. Opposition Conservatives leader Kemi Badenoch sided with Trump, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage praised the US president’s stance.

However, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying the episode showed the limits of Britain’s diplomatic approach to Trump.