UK Resumes Chagos Islands Negotiations with US Following Trump’s Criticism

The United Kingdom has reopened discussions with the United States regarding the future of the Chagos Islands after President Donald Trump criticized a planned sovereignty transfer to Mauritius, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed Wednesday.

The strategic Indian Ocean archipelago, which hosts a critical U.S. military base on Diego Garcia, became the center of diplomatic tension when Trump condemned the proposed handover as “an act of great stupidity” on his Truth Social platform.

“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,” Trump wrote. He further asserted that “China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness,” linking the issue to his longstanding interest in acquiring Greenland to bolster U.S. national security.

The Chagos Islands have been at the center of a decades-long territorial dispute. They were separated from Mauritius during Britain’s decolonization process in the 1960s, a move the International Court of Justice ruled unlawful in 2019. The U.K. had subsequently agreed to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while arranging to lease back Diego Garcia for at least 99 years at an annual cost of approximately $160 million.

Diego Garcia’s strategic value cannot be overstated in global security architecture. The island serves as a hub for long-range bombers and houses roughly 2,500 military and civilian personnel, predominantly American. The base plays a pivotal role in U.S. military operations across the Middle East, Indo-Pacific, and Africa, while also supporting critical intelligence gathering and secure military communications networks.

Speaking to reporters during a flight to China, Starmer indicated he has discussed the Chagos situation with Trump “a number of times,” though he declined to specify whether the topic arose during their Sunday phone call. The British leader noted that the matter “has been raised with the White House at the tail end of last week, over the weekend and into the early part of this week.”

Starmer also pointed out that when the Trump administration initially took office, the U.K. had paused the agreement for three months to allow U.S. officials time to evaluate the deal at the agency level. “Once they’d done that, they were very clear in the pronouncements about the fact that they supported the deal, and there were announcements made,” he said.

A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that London is actively working to “allay any concerns” in Washington regarding the transfer. “We will continue to engage with the U.S. on this important matter and the importance of the deal to secure U.S. and U.K. interests and allay any concerns, as we’ve done throughout the process,” the spokesperson stated.

Trump’s intervention has complicated what was already a sensitive diplomatic arrangement. The potential renegotiation highlights the geopolitical importance of the Indian Ocean region, where both China and Russia have been expanding their influence in recent years. Security experts have long viewed Diego Garcia as an irreplaceable asset in Western military strategy, particularly as tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific region.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage welcomed Trump’s criticism, writing on X: “Thank goodness Trump has vetoed the surrender of the Chagos islands.” His comment underscores the domestic political dimensions of the issue within the U.K., where some conservatives have opposed relinquishing control of the territory.

The outcome of these renewed discussions could have significant implications for U.S.-U.K. relations, particularly as the incoming Trump administration reassesses America’s strategic priorities and alliance commitments worldwide.