US President Donald Trump has criticized the UK’s deal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining a UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, calling it an “act of great stupidity” and a sign of national security weakness. The comments come months after Trump initially endorsed the agreement, highlighting ongoing tensions over strategic military and geopolitical concerns.

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What the Chagos Islands Deal Entails

The £3.4 billion ($4.6 billion) agreement, signed in May 2025, allows the UK to retain control of the Diego Garcia military base, a key US strategic asset in the Indian Ocean, while officially transferring sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius.

Under the deal, the UK secured a 99-year leaseback of Diego Garcia at £101 million per year, ensuring continued joint military operations and protection of the base from potential adversaries. The UK government argued that the arrangement would resolve the longstanding sovereignty dispute with Mauritius, while safeguarding the strategic capabilities of the base for decades.

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Trump’s Criticism

Speaking on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated:

“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. There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness.”

He added that the decision was among a “very long line of National Security reasons” for his past proposals to acquire Greenland.

Trump’s comments mark a stark departure from his previous endorsement of the deal during a February 2025 meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, when he had indicated he would “be inclined to go along with your country.”

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UK Government Response

A UK government spokesperson defended the agreement, emphasizing that it never compromises national security. The spokesperson explained that recent court rulings had threatened Diego Garcia’s operational future, and the deal ensures the base’s functions remain intact for generations.

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones told BBC Breakfast that the arrangement was the right way to secure the future of the island, and that the UK should not feel embarrassed or humiliated by the decision.

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Political Reactions

The deal has drawn reactions from across UK political parties:

• Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the agreement “self-sabotage” and said the Prime Minister could still change course.
• Reform UK leader Nigel Farage praised Trump’s stance, describing it as a vital veto against surrendering the islands.
• Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey said the government’s attempts to appease Trump had failed, warning against “bowing to a bully.”
• Labour MP Emily Thornberry cautioned that while Trump should be taken seriously, his comments were an example of “presidential trolling”.

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Historical Context

The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius in 1965, prior to the island nation’s independence. Mauritius has long argued that the islands were illegally detached. Diego Garcia has been a key US military base since the 1970s, providing strategic capabilities in the Indian Ocean, including for counterterrorism and naval operations.

The UK-Mauritius deal resolves sovereignty disputes while maintaining joint military operational control, a compromise initially supported by former US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who described it as a “monumental achievement” for long-term regional security.

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Strategic and Security Implications

Analysts note that Diego Garcia remains a critical strategic asset, particularly for monitoring Indian Ocean routes and projecting US power across Asia and Africa. Trump’s criticism reflects broader concerns about US and NATO military positioning, as well as rising competition from China and Russia in the region.

The UK government maintains that the deal strengthens transatlantic security cooperation and prevents adversaries from gaining leverage over one of the world’s most strategically important islands.