U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the United Kingdom’s decision to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago—officially the British Indian Ocean Territory—to Mauritius, calling it “an act of GREAT STUPIDITY” in a sharp critique released early Tuesday. The move has intensified concerns about strategic security, U.S.-UK relations, and expanding influence by external powers.
In a Truth Social post, Trump targeted Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his Labour government for the decision, stating: “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 further accused the UK of undermining national security by ceding control over Diego Garcia, home to a critical joint British-American military facility used for air, naval, and intelligence operations across the Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific regions.
Trump emphasized that the handover—despite Mauritius’s remote location and lack of historical sovereignty over the archipelago—exposed “great weakness” in Western defense strategy, linking it to his broader push for U.S. territorial expansion. He claimed China and Russia would exploit the shift, asserting: “These are International Powers who only recognize STRENGTH.”
The British government defended the arrangement as necessary to preserve operations at Diego Garcia’s base after court rulings threatened its functionality. A spokesperson noted the deal ensures long-term security with “robust provisions” for maintaining the facility’s capabilities and excluding adversaries. However, critics highlight that International Court of Justice rulings on territorial transfer were non-binding, and Mauritius could render Diego Garcia strategically vulnerable by leasing nearby islands to China or other adversaries.
The decision has drawn particular scrutiny over the UK’s handling of the Chagossian population, with reports indicating the labor government proceeded without addressing historical grievances despite claims of anti-colonial principles. Reform Party leader Nigel Farage welcomed Trump’s criticism, stating: “Thank goodness Trump has vetoed the surrender of the Chagos islands.”
