U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited controversy over a little-known group of islands in the Indian Ocean after blasting the U.K.’s decision to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.Â
In a recent post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called the move an act of “great stupidity,” arguing that it endangers U.S. national security because the islands host a major American military base.
Trump’s comments have drawn fresh attention to a decades-long territorial dispute—and to why these remote islands matter so much.
Why It Matters
Trump took to Truth Social to target an agreement to hand sovereignty over the Chagos Islands from the U.K. to Mauritius—a move he labeled “great stupidity” because of the presence of a critical U.S. military base on the largest island, Diego Garcia.
The Chagos deal matters beyond its remote location because Diego Garcia is a key logistical and strategic hub for U.S. operations across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
What To Know
The Chagos Archipelago lies in the central Indian Ocean, about halfway between Africa and Indonesia. Its largest island, Diego Garcia, hosts a major naval and air base used by U.S. forces with U.K. support.
Originally part of Mauritius, the islands were separated by the U.K. before Mauritians gained independence in 1968.Â
Britain retained control, creating the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). In the 1960s and 1970s, the U.K. expelled thousands of Chagossians to make way for the U.S. military base—a move later condemned internationally and described by critics as a grave human-rights violation.
After decades of legal and diplomatic pressure—the U.K. and Mauritius negotiated a landmark deal. In May 2025, the U.K. agreed to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while paying to lease back Diego Garcia for at least 99 years, ensuring continued military access for the U.S. and U.K.
Trump’s criticism stems from his belief that ceding formal sovereignty—even while retaining long-term operational control of Diego Garcia—weakens U.S. strategic interests and displays weakness by the U.K. He tied the controversy into broader foreign-policy themes in his post, suggesting on Truth Social that adversaries could exploit perceived retreats by Western powers.
This response comes despite the fact that the deal was agreed with U.S. consultation and had received earlier support from American officials as a way to secure the base’s future.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote 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. There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness. These are International Powers who only recognize STRENGTH, which is why the United States of America, under my leadership, is now, after only one year, respected like never before. 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. Denmark and its European Allies have to DO THE RIGHT THING. Thank you for your attention to this matter. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Robert Midgley, spokesperson for Friends of the British Overseas Territories and former videographer to two U.K. prime ministers, wrote on X: “An appeal to Labour MPs. The defense lines you’ve been given on the Chagos Islands are wrong. You do not need to cede sovereignty to secure the Diego Garcia base…You do not need to undermine self‑determination or give away £46bn to achieve security. You have the power to address a historic injustice—this ‘deal’ does not do that.”
In a statement, a U.K. Government spokesperson said: “The U.K. will never compromise on our national security. We acted because the base on Diego Garcia was under threat after court decisions undermined our position and would have prevented it operating as intended in future.
“This deal secures the operations of the joint U.S.-U.K. base on Diego Garcia for generations, with robust provisions for keeping its unique capabilities intact and our adversaries out. It has been publicly welcomed by the U.S., Australia and all other Five Eyes allies, as well as key international partners including India, Japan and South Korea.”
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the U.K. Conservative Party, said on X: “Paying to surrender the Chagos Islands is not just an act of stupidity, but of complete self sabotage. I’ve been clear and unfortunately on this issue President Trump is right. Keir Starmer’s plan to give away the Chagos Islands is a terrible policy that weakens UK security and hands away our sovereign territory. And to top it off, makes us and our NATO allies weaker in face of our enemies.”
Darren Jones, the Cabinet Office minister and chief secretary to U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, told BBC News: “This is the right way to secure the future of the island and I wouldn’t for a second suggest that Britain should be embarrassed or humiliated by any of those decisions.”
What Happens Next
The U.K.-Mauritius agreement still requires ratification by both governments. Once finalized, Mauritius will assume sovereignty, and the U.K. will continue leasing Diego Garcia under agreed terms.
How the resettlement of displaced Chagossians and related compensation mechanisms are implemented remains a sensitive issue likely to attract ongoing scrutiny.
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