U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered a fresh shock to the British government, which defended its decision to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following intense criticism from the American leader, despite the fact that his own administration had previously supported the deal. Trump characterized the handover of the remote archipelago in the Indian Ocean—home to a strategically vital American naval and air base—as an act of "great stupidity" that demonstrates why he must gain control of Greenland. "Shockingly, our 'brilliant' NATO ally, the United Kingdom, is planning to surrender the island of Diego Garcia, which hosts a vital U.S. military base, to Mauritius, AND FOR NO REASON AT ALL," he wrote in a post on the Truth Social platform. "No doubt China and Russia have noticed this act of absolute weakness." "The giving away of very important land by the UK is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY and is yet another national security reason why Greenland must be acquired," Trump added.
The May agreement
In May, the United Kingdom and Mauritius signed an agreement granting sovereignty of the islands, with the UK retaining a lease on Diego Garcia, where the American base is located, for at least 99 years. At the time, the U.S. administration welcomed the deal, stating it "ensures the long-term, stable, and effective operation of the joint U.S.-UK military facility on Diego Garcia." British Cabinet Minister Darren Jones stated today that the agreement "will secure this military base for the next 100 years." However, the deal has triggered a fierce backlash from British opposition parties, who argue that ceding the islands, which have been British territory for two centuries, jeopardizes security and increases the risk of intervention by China and Russia. The island residents, displaced for the installation of the American base, emphasize they were not consulted and fear the agreement will hinder their return home. The legislation to approve the deal has already passed the House of Commons but faces strong resistance in the House of Lords, which approved it while simultaneously issuing a "motion of regret." The matter returns to the House of Commons today for further debate.
Intense reactions
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government over the agreement. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she asserted that Trump is right and that "Starmer's plan to hand over the Chagos Islands is a disastrous policy that undermines UK security and cedes sovereign territory. Furthermore, it makes us and our NATO allies weaker against our enemies." Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a Trump ally, stated: "Thank goodness Trump blocked the surrender of the Chagos Islands." The U.S. government describes the Diego Garcia base, where approximately 2,500 primarily American military personnel serve, as an "almost irreplaceable platform" for security operations in the Middle East, South Asia, and East Africa.
The Chagos Islands have been under British control since 1814, when they were ceded by France. The United Kingdom detached the islands from Mauritius, a former British colony, in 1965, evicting up to 2,000 residents to allow for the construction of the U.S. military base on Diego Garcia. It is estimated that approximately 10,000 displaced Chagossians and their descendants now live mainly in Britain, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. Some have fought unsuccessfully for years in British courts for the right to return. The UK-Mauritius agreement provides for the creation of a restitution fund for displaced residents to help them resettle on the islands—with the exception of Diego Garcia.
www.bankingnews.gr
Readers’ Comments