Trump Criticizes UK Over Chagos Islands Sovereignty Transfer to Mauritius

President Donald Trump has criticized the United Kingdom's decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, labeling it an act of "great stupidity" and expressing concerns over national security implications.

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated, "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 ... ."

The Chagos Islands, located in the Indian Ocean, have been under British control since 1814. In May 2025, the UK agreed to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while retaining a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia, where a joint UK-U.S. military base is situated.

The UK government defended the agreement, emphasizing that it secures the military base for the next century. Cabinet Minister Darren Jones stated, "We've done a deal with the Mauritian government... This is the way in which to secure that military base for the next 100 years."

Opposition figures in the UK, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, echoed Trump's concerns, warning of potential risks from adversaries like China and Russia.

Displaced Chagossians, originally evicted in the 1960s to make way for the base, criticized their exclusion from the negotiations and expressed concern about future resettlement.

The deal faces further parliamentary scrutiny amid strong political divisions.