Chagos Islands sovereignty talks restart following Trump criticism of deal
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Talks between the UK and the US over the future of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean have reportedly resumed after President Donald Trump’s comments cast doubt on a deal that would see Britain hand over sovereignty of the strategically vital archipelago to Mauritius.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed on Wednesday that Britain had restarted talks after the president denigrated the deal and branded it “an act of great stupidity”. reported.
“Shockingly, our ‘brilliant’ NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, plans to give Mauritius Diego Garcia Island, where a vital US Military Base is located, and it plans to do so WITHOUT ANY REASON,” Trump said on Truth Social. “There is no doubt that China and Russia recognized this act of complete weakness.”
He added: “The UK’s donation of hugely important land is an act of HUGE stupidity and a long list of National Security reasons why Greenland should be acquired.”
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Diego Garcia, the largest island of the Chagos archipelago and home to a large US military base in the middle of the Indian Ocean, was leased from England in 1966. (Reuters)
The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius during British decolonization. International Court of Justice It was ruled unlawful in 2019.
Britain later agreed to cede sovereignty while leasing Diego Garcia back for at least 99 years at a cost of at least $160 million annually.
Diego Garcia is a hub for long-range bombers, logistics and power projection in the Middle East, Indo-Pacific and Africa.
Around 2,500 military and civilian personnel, mostly americanThey are stationed there. The base serves as a critical operating point for the United States and plays a central role in gathering intelligence and securing military communications.
Speaking on a flight to China, Starmer said he had “discussed Chagos with Donald Trump a number of times” but refused to confirm whether the issue was raised during a phone call between the two leaders on Sunday. Financial Times reported.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he “discussed Chagos with him” [President] Donald Trump several times.” (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Starmer also said the issue was “raised at the White House late last week, over the weekend and earlier this week.”
Starmer also added that when the Trump administration took office, the UK paused the agreement for three months to give the US time to evaluate the agreement at the agency level.
“Once they did that, they made it clear that they supported the deal and announcements were made,” he said.
A Downing Street spokesman also confirmed London was working to “address any concerns” in Washington. Great Britain News.
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“As we have done throughout the process, we will continue to engage with the United States on this important issue and the importance of the agreement to secure US and UK interests and address concerns,” the spokesman said.
Trump’s comments on the Chagos agreement were welcomed by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who wrote of X: “Thank goodness Trump vetoed the surrender of the Chagos islands.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House and Downing Street for comment.
