The UK government has firmly defended its sovereignty agreement with Mauritius regarding the Chagos Archipelago, following unexpectedly harsh criticism from former US President Donald Trump. The £3.4 billion arrangement, finalized in May, transfers administrative control of the islands to Mauritius while maintaining UK authority over the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base through a 99-year leaseback agreement.
In a Tuesday morning social media post on Truth Social, Trump condemned the arrangement as an ‘act of great stupidity’ and ‘total weakness,’ claiming it would be noticed by geopolitical rivals China and Russia. These remarks directly contradict his administration’s previous endorsement of the deal during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Oval Office visit last February.
UK officials responded by emphasizing unwavering commitment to national security interests. A government spokesperson stated that the agreement emerged from legal necessity, as court decisions had threatened the base’s operational continuity. The arrangement reportedly includes robust provisions to safeguard the joint UK-US facility’s unique capabilities while excluding adversarial influence.
The Foreign Office confirmed plans to engage with Trump’s representatives to reaffirm the agreement’s strategic merits, noting that the deal enjoys support from Five Eyes intelligence partners—Canada, Australia, and New Zealand alongside the UK and US.
Mauritius’ Attorney General Gavin Glover emphasized the bilateral nature of the sovereignty arrangement, noting international law already recognizes Mauritian sovereignty over the archipelago. Meanwhile, British opposition leaders seized on Trump’s comments to criticize the government’s approach, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch calling the arrangement ‘complete self sabotage.’
The controversy unfolds as Chagossian natives express concerns about exclusion from negotiations, with community members advocating for their right to determine the islands’ future.