DONALD TRUMP has accused the UK of “stupidity” and “weakness” over plans to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands — including the strategically vital US air base on Diego Garcia — to Mauritius.
The US president’s intervention marks his first direct attack on Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to cede control of the Indian Ocean archipelago, and cuts across the prime minister’s efforts to maintain close relations with Trump.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Britain was “shockingly” preparing to give away Diego Garcia “FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER”, despite it hosting a “vital U.S. Military Base”.
“There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness,” he wrote, adding: “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.”
Starmer has faced mounting criticism at home over the proposed deal, both from opposition parties and some campaigners. However, the prime minister has consistently defended the agreement, pointing to Washington’s backing for the arrangement.
Last year, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the United States “welcomes the historic agreement” between Britain and Mauritius, praising it for securing the “long-term, stable and effective operation” of the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia. He also commended the “leadership” and “vision” shown by London and Port Louis.
Under the terms of the deal, Britain will pay more than £100 million a year for a long-term lease of the base from Mauritius.
Trump’s remarks follow earlier threats to impose 10 per cent tariffs on the UK and other Nato allies if they continued to oppose his ambition to acquire Greenland from Denmark. His increasingly confrontational stance has unsettled British officials and raised questions over whether Starmer’s strategy of courting Trump — including extending a state visit last year — is delivering results.
On Tuesday, Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, acknowledged that Trump’s comments “raise a lot of questions” but defended the Chagos agreement.
Speaking to the BBC, Jones said Diego Garcia was “a small island that was part of the British empire” whose sovereignty had been challenged, including through legal action supported by Russia. “We’ve secured that island as a military base for the next 100 years,” he said.
Jones stressed that Starmer’s relationship with Trump was “important” and that the two leaders spoke regularly. The prime minister had “repeatedly secured British interests”, he said, insisting the government would continue to stand up for its values on the world stage.
“Geopolitics is increasingly volatile, I recognise that,” Jones added. “But we shouldn’t be cowed by that. We should stand up to it.” He conceded, however, that negotiations with the US administration over trade and tariff threats were “difficult and challenging”.
Trump’s intervention was welcomed by some of Starmer’s critics. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wrote on X: “Thank goodness Trump has vetoed the surrender of the Chagos Islands.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch echoed the US president’s language, saying: “Paying to surrender the Chagos Islands is not just an act of stupidity, but of complete self-sabotage.” She said she had met the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, on Monday evening and that he, too, had concerns about the deal.
Johnson, addressing MPs in Westminster on Tuesday, sought to strike a conciliatory note. “We’ve always been able to work through our differences calmly as friends,” he said. “We will continue to do that. I want to assure you this morning that that is still the case.”
In a statement, the UK government said it would “never compromise on our national security”, arguing that legal rulings had threatened Britain’s ability to operate the base effectively.
“This deal secures the operations of the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia for generations, with robust provisions for keeping its unique capabilities intact and our adversaries out,” the statement said. It added that the agreement had been publicly welcomed by the US, Australia, other Five Eyes allies and key partners including India, Japan and South Korea.
Pressure is also growing on Starmer from within Westminster to adopt a tougher stance towards Trump. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the episode showed the prime minister’s approach had failed.
Posting on X, he said: “The Chagos deal was sold as proof the government could work with him — now it’s falling apart. It’s time for the government to stand up to Trump; appeasing a bully never works.”
Despite the escalating row, Starmer will not attend the World Economic Forum in Davos later this week. Jones confirmed the prime minister would remain in the UK, noting that the chancellor and business secretary would represent Britain instead.
“Davos is predominantly a place to talk about the economy and business investment,” Jones told Sky News. “The prime minister has many other demands on his time.”
