Trump Criticizes UK-Mauritius Chagos Transfer, Reversing Earlier U.S. Support
President Trump attacked the UK's 2025 Chagos transfer to Mauritius, reversing earlier support, raising security concerns over Diego Garcia while London defends the base arrangement.
Overview
President Trump criticized the UK's May 2025 agreement to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling the move 'great stupidity' and warning adversaries would exploit perceived weakness.
Diego Garcia, home to a joint US-UK military base, will remain accessible under a 99-year lease and annual payments; London says the arrangement secures long-term operations.
The UK argues the transfer responds to a 2019 ICJ advisory opinion and legal pressures; ministers say the treaty prevents future international challenges to base operations.
Displaced Chagossians, largely excluded from negotiations, fear resettlement will be limited and their right to return remains contested despite a planned resettlement fund.
British political opposition seized on Trump's remarks; however Labour's majority, the signed treaty, and parliamentary legislation keep ratification prospects uncertain but advancing.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present largely neutral coverage: they clearly attribute inflammatory language to Trump, balance it with U.K. and U.S. government statements, legal background (ICJ/UN rulings), and Chagossian human-rights context. Reporting avoids loaded editorializing, offers multiple perspectives, and structures facts to explain security, legal and humanitarian dimensions.
Sources (21)
FAQ
Diego Garcia is an island in the Chagos Archipelago hosting a key joint U.S.-UK military base in the Indian Ocean, critical for regional and global security operations.
The UK agreed to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, but secured a 99-year lease for the Diego Garcia military base with annual payments to ensure long-term operations.
Trump called the UK's decision 'great stupidity,' claiming it showed weakness that adversaries could exploit, despite his administration's prior endorsement via Secretary Rubio after review.
The UK argues the deal responds to a 2019 ICJ advisory opinion and court decisions threatening the base, securing operations for generations with provisions against adversaries.
Displaced Chagossians, excluded from negotiations, fear limited resettlement opportunities and that their right to return remains contested despite a planned fund.
History
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