Trump Slams UK's Chagos Islands Sovereignty Handover as 'Great Stupidity'

Trump administration had previously welcomed 'monumental' Chagos deal Donald Trump's latest comments - calling the UK's plans to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius "an act of great stupidity" - mark a major change in position. When Keir Starmer announced the UK had signed the deal on 22 May 2025, Starmer said: "President Trump has welcomed the deal along with other allies, because they see the strategic importance of this base and that we cannot cede the ground to others who would seek to do us harm." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also welcomed it, and issued a statement saying that Trump had "expressed his support for this monumental achievement". Rubio said the deal "reflects the enduring strength of the US-UK relationship". "We stand ready to continue our collaboration to promote peace, security, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean and beyond," he added. The agreement followed Starmer's visit to the Oval Office in February, during which the US President indicated he would be prepared to back the Chagos deal. "They're talking about a very long-term, powerful lease, a very strong lease, about 140 years actually," Trump said then. "That's a long time, and I think we'll be inclined to go along with your country." Under the Chagos plan, the UK is expected to lease Diego Garcia for 99 years, with an option for a 40-year extension. What is the Chagos Islands deal? The UK agreed a deal last year to hand over its sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while retaining control of a UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the territory. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says the 99-year agreement to lease back Diego Garcia will cost the UK £101m a year. The islands were separated from Mauritius in 1965, when Mauritius was still a British colony. Britain purchased the islands for £3m but Mauritius has argued that it was illegally forced to give them away as part of a deal to gain independence. Britain invited the US to build a military base on Diego Garcia, which removed thousands of people from their homes. Some of those Chagossians ended up in Mauritius and the Seychelles, but others settled in the UK, mostly in Crawley, West Sussex. 'An act of GREAT STUPIDITY' Here is the latest Truth Social from President Trump on the UK's Chagos Islands deal: "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. 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. "The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired. "Denmark and its European Allies have to DO THE RIGHT THING. Thank you for your attention to this matter. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP" Last year, Trump indicated he would be prepared to back the UK's deal to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. We'll have more on this breaking news imminently.