Tensions have flared between the UK and the US over the future of the Chagos Islands. President Donald Trump has criticised the UK’s plan to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius, warning it could jeopardise the strategic Diego Garcia military base.
The UK signed an agreement in May 2025 to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending decades of British colonial administration. Under the deal, the UK and the US will retain a joint military base on Diego Garcia through a 99-year lease, ensuring continued strategic access in the Indian Ocean.
Trump, speaking on his social media platform Truth Social, argued that relinquishing sovereignty could weaken Western security, particularly amid ongoing regional tensions. He called the long-term lease “tenuous” and urged the UK to reconsider its plan, highlighting the base’s importance for potential US military operations.
The US government, however, has officially backed the UK-Mauritius agreement. The State Department reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to the treaty, showing that Trump’s criticism does not represent the official US stance.
UK officials defended the deal, saying it secures the future of Diego Garcia while maintaining national and allied security. The controversy has also drawn attention from UK politicians, with some opposition figures echoing Trump’s concerns over strategic control.
The issue touches on historical grievances as well. Descendants of the Chagossian community, who were expelled in the 1960s and 70s to make way for the military base, continue to campaign for the right to return. Recently, British authorities issued removal orders to four Chagossians who landed on a remote atoll in protest, warning they could face fines or imprisonment.
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