US President Donald Trump called Britain’s deal to cede sovereignty of the island of Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands to Mauritius an "act of total weakness", putting the agreement back into the spotlight eight months after it was signed.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, called the giving away of "extremely important" land an act of "great stupidity."
"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," he added.
Britain signed the multi-billion dollar deal after a last-gasp injunction was overturned, securing it a lease for the strategically important UK-US air base on Diego Garcia over the next century.
What is Chagos Islands deal?The Chagos Archipelago comprised six atolls with more than 600 islands in the Indian Ocean, 500 km (300 miles) south of the Maldives and halfway between Africa and Indonesia. Around 4,000 people were stationed on the islands. No indigenous inhabitants, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, lived there since Britain forcibly displaced up to 2,000 people, mostly former agricultural workers, from the islands in the late 1960s and early 1970s to establish the Diego Garcia base.
Under increasing international pressure, Britain agreed in October 2024 to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a former colony that gained independence in 1968. The deal drew criticism from lawmakers as well as Britons born on Diego Garcia, Reuters reported.
In May 2025, Britain said it would pay Mauritius 101 million pounds ($136 million) per year, calculated to be worth 3.4 billion pounds over the lifetime of the deal, to secure the future of the Diego Garcia military base under a 99-year lease.
How UK got involved in this deal?The Chagos Islands were originally part of Mauritius, but the UK separated the islands before Mauritians gained independence in 1968.
Britain retained control and created the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). In the 1960s and 1970s, the UK expelled thousands of Chagossians to make way for the US military base, a move later condemned internationally and described by critics as a grave human-rights violation.
After decades of legal and diplomatic pressure, the UK and Mauritius negotiated a landmark deal. In May 2025, the UK agreed to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while paying to lease back Diego Garcia for at least 99 years, ensuring continued military access for the US and UK.
Did Trump flipped? In May, the US said it "welcomed the historic agreement", commending both countries’ leaders for their vision.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio welcomed the deal 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 was expected to lease Diego Garcia for 99 years, with an option for a 40-year extension.
How Diego Garcia important for US?Diego Garcia served as a key military base in the Indian Ocean for the US and Britain. Recent operations launched from Diego Garcia included bombing strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in 2024 and 2025, humanitarian aid deployments to Gaza and attacks against Taliban and al Qaeda targets in Afghanistan in 2001.
China also had a growing reach in the region, including close trade ties with Mauritius.
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