‘Act Of Great Stupidity’: Trump Flips Position On UK’s Chagos Islands Deal For Greenland Push

Last Updated:January 20, 2026, 14:19 IST

Donald Trump slammed the UK for ceding Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling it “stupidity” and warning of China and Russia, a shift from his earlier stance on the agreement.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the United Kingdom over its decision to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling the move an “act of great stupidity” and warning that China and Russia would view it as a sign of weakness.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticised Britain’s plan to cede the strategically located Indian Ocean archipelago, which includes Diego Garcia, home to a critical US-UK military base, to Mauritius under a recently concluded agreement.

“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.

“There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness,” he added, arguing that major global powers “only recognize STRENGTH.”

Trump went on to link the issue directly to his push for US ownership of Greenland, stating, “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.”

TRUMP’s REMARK IS A SHIFT FROM HIS EARLIER STANCE

Trump’s social media post represents a notable shift from his earlier position, when he had endorsed the agreement between Britain and Mauritius.

When the deal was signed in May, the US administration had publicly welcomed the arrangement, emphasising its importance for maintaining military stability in the region.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said that Washington “welcomes the historic agreement,” adding that it secured the “long-term, stable, and effective operation of the joint US-UK military facility at Diego Garcia, which is critical to regional and global security.”

WHAT IS THE CHAGOS ISLANDS DEAL?

Under the deal, Britain will formally return the Chagos Islands to its former colony while paying to lease the strategically vital military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago.

The agreement allows continued operation of the joint US-UK facility, which has been central to military operations in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions.

Britain retained control of the Chagos Islands after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s, but forcibly removed thousands of islanders between 1967 and 1973.

Those displaced residents have since pursued legal claims for compensation in British courts.

In 2019, the International Court of Justice recommended that Britain hand the archipelago to Mauritius, a ruling that intensified pressure on London to resolve the long-running dispute.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer has argued that without a deal, the UK would face serious legal and strategic risks, including the possibility of rival powers gaining influence in surrounding islands.

UK officials also stressed that the deal was supported by Britain’s closest allies and was the only viable path to preserve control of the base amid mounting international legal pressure.

INDIA WELCOMED RETURN OF CHAGOS TO MAURITIUS

India had also welcomed the agreement, backing Mauritius’s claim to the Chagos Archipelago and framing the development as a milestone in the decolonisation process.

The Ministry of External Affairs said India has consistently supported Mauritius’s “legitimate claim” over the islands, in line with its principled position on decolonisation, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

“We welcome the signing of the treaty between the UK and Mauritius on the return of Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia,” the MEA said, describing the resolution of the dispute as “a positive development for the region.”

India added that it remains committed to working with Mauritius and other like-minded countries to strengthen maritime security and ensure peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region.

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