Controversy Surrounds UK-Mauritius Chagos Islands Deal Amid Trump’s Criticism

Wed Jan 21 2026 14:46:52 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The UK government is standing by its agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining military control over Diego Garcia, despite backlash from former US President Donald Trump. Calls for reconsiderations of indigenous rights and sovereignty emerge.

The United Kingdom has come under fire following a controversial agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back the Diego Garcia military base. The deal, valued at £3.4 billion, was sharply criticized by Donald Trump, who labeled it an 'act of great stupidity'. The UK government, however, maintains that the move strengthens national security and is backed by key allies.

The UK government has defended a deal to give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back a key military base, following criticism from US President Donald Trump over its handling.

In a post on social media, Trump labelled the move as an 'act of great stupidity', months after he and senior US officials endorsed it. Later on Tuesday, he confirmed he was 'against' the deal.

The UK government said it would 'never compromise on our national security', while the prime minister's official spokesperson insisted the US still supported the move.

The UK signed the £3.4bn ($4.6bn) agreement in May, under which it would retain control of a UK-US military base on the largest of the islands, Diego Garcia.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump had said: '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.'

Responding, a prime minister's spokesperson stated that the US supports the deal and 'the president explicitly recognised its strength last year'.

The agreement follows a long-running dispute over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands between the UK and Mauritius, which argues that it was illegally forced to cede them during negotiations for independence. It granted the UK a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia, costing £101 million a year, to maintain military operational stability.

While Trump’s criticisms have resurfaced tensions around the decision, the Chagossian community, descendants of islanders displaced in the 1960s, assert their long-standing claims to the islands and demand a voice in the discussions affecting their homeland.

Key indigenous leaders have criticized the deal, asserting that the Chagossians should have been included in the discussions, emphasizing the importance of respecting their rights and perspectives in all matters concerning the islands.