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Trump Calls UK’s Chagos Islands Deal an “Act of Great Stupidity”
MLN- 20 JAN 2026: U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized the United Kingdom’s agreement to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back a key military base, calling the deal an “act of great stupidity,” according to comments posted on his Truth Social platform.
The agreement, signed by the UK in May, involves a £3.4 billion ($4.6 billion) arrangement under which Britain would transfer sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius while retaining control of the joint UK-U.S. military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island. The base would be leased back to the UK for 99 years.
In his post, Trump wrote: “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 whatsover.
“There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness,” Trump added. He said the move was “another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired.”
Trump’s comments mark a sharp reversal from earlier statements. Following the signing of the agreement in May, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington welcomed the deal, calling it a, monumental achievement, that secured the, long-term, stable, and effective operation, of the military facility, according to the BBC.
A UK government spokesperson said the agreement was necessary after court rulings undermined Britain’s legal position over the islands and threatened the future operation of the base. The spokesperson said the deal secured the base for generations and included provisions to protect its capabilities and keep adversaries out.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said the agreement was “the right way to secure the future of the island” and rejected suggestions the UK should be embarrassed by the decision.
Opposition leaders in Britain reacted strongly to Trump’s remarks. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the prime minister now had “the chance to change course,” while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage welcomed Trump’s criticism. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Trump’s comments showed the government’s approach toward the U.S. president, has failed.
Labour MP Emily Thornberry said Trump’s remarks should be taken “seriously, but not literally,” describing them as “presidential trolling,” according to the BBC.
