Trump Slams UK Chagos Deal as Great Stupidity; Greenland Talk Rises

Trump Calls UK Deal on Indian Ocean Islands ‘Great Stupidity,’ in Blow to Starmer

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Background and Context

President Trump’s comments target a remote archipelago that has long been a flashpoint in U.S.-UK security arrangements. The Times notes that Diego Garcia is the site of a major military base used by Britain and the United States. In 2024, Keir Starmer’s government agreed to relinquish control of the islands to Mauritius after years of negotiations, following a ruling by the United Nations’ highest court that Britain had acted unlawfully by detaching the archipelago from Mauritius in 1965. Under the terms of the deal, the United States and Britain could continue to operate the military base on Diego Garcia for an initial period of 99 years. At the time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the deal and said that Mr. Trump had “expressed his support for this monumental achievement,” which “reflects the enduring strength of the US-UK relationship.”

The 2024 deal and the Diego Garcia base

The arrangement allows ongoing operations at the Diego Garcia base for a 99-year initial period, maintaining joint access to a strategically important facility for the U.K. and the United States. This context set the stage for Trump’s Tuesday critique, which contrasted the deal with potential moves in other arenas. The article emphasizes that Diego Garcia is a site of a major military base used by Britain and the United States.

Diego Garcia’s status as the site of a crucial joint base is central to the security calculus of both nations, even as the sovereignty issue remains a sensitive subject for Mauritius and international observers.

In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday morning, Mr. Trump abruptly reversed that position and argued that the decision strengthened the case for the United States to acquire Greenland. “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,” he wrote. He added: “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.”

Domestic and international reactions

Nigel Farage, a longtime ally of Mr. Trump and the leader of Reform UK, wrote on social media, “Thank goodness Trump has vetoed the surrender of the Chagos islands.” In Parliament, Stephen Doughty, a minister in Britain’s foreign office, said the government would “never compromise on our national security.” He added: “The agreement we have struck is vital for protecting our national security and that of our allies in guaranteeing the long term future of a base that is crucially important for the U.K. and the United States.”

Broader implications for Greenland and alliances

The comments underscore a broader U.S. focus on Arctic strategy and security partnerships within NATO. Starmer’s outreach to the president—coupled with discussions about Greenland and tariffs—reflects a delicate balance between pursuing a lawful resolution to the Chagos issue and maintaining a robust transatlantic alliance.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/us/politics/trump-uk-chagos-islands-deal.html