Negotiations between the United Kingdom and the United States over the future of the Chagos Islands have reportedly resumed after President Donald Trump forcefully criticized a proposed agreement that would transfer sovereignty of the strategically vital archipelago to Mauritius.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed Wednesday that London has reopened discussions following Trump’s sharp rebuke of the deal, which would see Britain relinquish control of the islands while leasing back Diego Garcia—home to a major U.S. military base. Trump labeled the plan “an act of great stupidity,” according to GB News.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness.”
Trump warned that surrendering control of strategically important territory undermines Western security and emboldens America’s adversaries. He added that the move was yet another example of failed leadership on national security, tying it to broader concerns about U.S. strategic interests abroad.
The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius during Britain’s decolonization process. In 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled the separation unlawful, increasing international pressure on the U.K. to resolve the dispute.
Under the proposed agreement, Britain would transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while leasing Diego Garcia back for at least 99 years at an estimated annual cost of $160 million. Despite assurances that the base would remain operational, critics argue the deal introduces unnecessary risk to U.S. and allied military interests.
Diego Garcia plays a critical role in U.S. global power projection, hosting long-range bombers, logistics operations, intelligence gathering, and secure communications across the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific, and Africa. Approximately 2,500 military and civilian personnel—mostly Americans—are stationed on the island.
Speaking aboard a flight to China, Starmer said he had discussed the Chagos issue with Trump “a number of times,” though he declined to confirm whether it was raised during a recent phone call between the two leaders, according to The Financial Times. He acknowledged that the matter had been raised repeatedly with the White House in recent days.
Starmer also revealed that when the Trump administration took office, the U.K. paused the agreement for three months to allow U.S. agencies to review it. He claimed that after that review, U.S. officials had expressed support for the deal.
However, Trump’s recent comments suggest renewed skepticism within the administration, particularly as concerns grow over China’s expanding influence in the Indian Ocean region.
A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that London is now working to “allay any concerns” in Washington, emphasizing continued engagement with the U.S. to protect shared strategic interests.
Trump’s intervention was welcomed by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who praised the president for standing firm. “Thank goodness Trump has vetoed the surrender of the Chagos Islands,” Farage wrote on X.
For critics of the deal, Trump’s stance underscores a broader Republican argument: that national security should never be compromised for the sake of diplomatic convenience—and that strategic assets must remain firmly under the control of reliable allies.
