Trump Criticizes UK-Mauritius Deal Over Chagos Islands Sovereignty

U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized a recent agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius regarding the future sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. This archipelago in the Indian Ocean, which houses the strategically vital U.S. military base on Diego Garcia, has been a long-standing point of contention between the two nations. Trump described the deal as “an act of GREAT STUPIDITY” on social media, despite previous endorsements from his administration that framed the agreement as a means to secure the American military presence.

The Chagos Islands are a remote group of over 60 islands located south of the Maldives and off the coast of India. They have been under British control since 1814, when they were ceded by France. The archipelago is primarily known for Diego Garcia, which has supported U.S. military operations from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan. Notably, in 2008, the U.S. admitted that the base also facilitated clandestine rendition flights for terror suspects.

In 1965, the UK separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, a former British colony, and established the British Indian Ocean Territory. The U.S. military base on Diego Garcia is described as “an all but indispensable platform” for security operations across the Middle East, South Asia, and East Africa. Recently, the United States deployed nuclear-capable B-2 Spirit bombers to the base as part of an airstrike campaign targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

The British government forcibly displaced approximately 2,000 Chagossians in the 1960s and 1970s to facilitate the construction of the military base. In recent years, there has been increasing criticism regarding the UK’s governance of the islands and its treatment of the displaced population. Both the United Nations and the International Court of Justice have called on Britain to end its colonial administration and transfer sovereignty back to Mauritius.

The negotiations for the current agreement began in 2022 under the previous Conservative government and continued after the election of Keir Starmer‘s Labour Party in 2024. Following a lengthy negotiation process, which included disputes over financial arrangements, the agreement was finalized in May 2025. Under this deal, Britain will pay Mauritius to lease Diego Garcia for a minimum of 99 years.

Opposition politicians in the UK have voiced strong concerns about the agreement, arguing that relinquishing control over the islands could expose them to interference from countries like China and Russia. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch characterized the agreement as detrimental to UK security and sovereignty.

Trump’s recent remarks align with his broader foreign policy perspective. He linked the transfer of sovereignty to a perceived risk of benefiting China and Russia, suggesting it underscores his earlier aspirations to acquire Greenland.

The situation remains complex for the displaced Chagossians and their descendants, many of whom currently reside in the UK, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. An estimated 10,000 individuals from this community seek to return to their homeland. Despite their ongoing struggles in British courts to secure the right to return, many feel excluded from the political discussions that directly affect their future.

Human Rights Watch has characterized the UK’s actions regarding the Chagossians as “amounting to crimes against humanity committed by a colonial power against an Indigenous people.” Two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, have actively challenged the handover deal, expressing concerns that it would further complicate their chances of returning once Mauritius assumes control.

The agreement does propose the establishment of a resettlement fund aimed at aiding displaced islanders in their return, although specific details regarding its implementation remain unclear. As discussions unfold, the fate of the Chagos Islands and the legacy of their past continue to provoke significant debate and concern on both sides of the Atlantic.