Donald Trump has criticised the UK government’s decision to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, branding the move “an act of GREAT STUPIDITY.” Writing on his Truth Social platform, the former US president expressed alarm at plans that would see Britain transfer sovereignty while leasing back the Diego Garcia military base for continued UK-US use.
Trump claimed the proposal threatens US strategic interests, describing Diego Garcia as the site of a “vital US Military Base.” He suggested the deal influenced his broader concerns about global security arrangements, including his calls for the US to expand its territorial control elsewhere.
The intervention drew praise from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a long-standing opponent of the agreement, who said Trump had effectively “vetoed the surrender” of the islands.
The UK reached the agreement with Mauritius last year, ending decades of dispute over the territory’s status. Under the deal, Britain will lease Diego Garcia for 99 years at a reported cost of £101m annually, according to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius in 1965 before Mauritian independence, a move Mauritius has long argued was unlawful. The establishment of the US military base led to the forced displacement of thousands of Chagossians, many of whom now live in Mauritius, the Seychelles, and the UK.
Erizia Rubyjeana
About the Author
