Donald Trump condemned the United Kingdom’s recent move to transfer ownership of the Chagos Islands back to Mauritius. He deemed it an act of “great stupidity.” This approach has sparked further controversy in the UK. It includes relocating Diego Garcia, an extremely important tactical location with a large U.S. air base. The treaty was signed on 16th May 2025, by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Mauritian counterpart.
When, in 1965, the Chagos Islands were severed from Mauritius. This separation came about due to a Cold War, Mutual Defense, special relationship arrangement between the U.S. and the UK. Since then, the entire archipelago has been called the British Indian Ocean Territory. Today, life in the archipelago is defined by the islands’ pivotal role in military operations. They possess profound cultural importance to the Chagossian people, who were forcibly displaced from their homeland to enable the establishment of these military facilities.
Historical Context and Current Developments
The UK gained the Chagos Islands from France in 1814, when the Treaty of Paris—which marked Napoleon’s defeat—ceded control of several French territories to Britain. The British held on to the islands until 1965 when they detached them from Mauritius. This forced removal paved the way for the creation of the U.S. military base on Diego Garcia in 1971. Yet this base has been damningly indispensable in failed Middle Eastern military operations. It has backed the invasions of Iraq and strategic pivots across Asia.
The International Court of Justice made a firm ruling in 2019. It instructed the United Kingdom to restore the islands to Mauritius “in the shortest feasible time.” The UK government has decided to offer Mauritius £101 million ($136 million) a year in compensation for its retention of Diego Garcia under the 99-year lease. Others see this decision as a middle ground concession made in the face of international pressure.
Trump originally called last year’s deal a “monumental achievement.” Now, at the end of that story, he explains why he’s worried about the recent shift in ownership. For one, he makes the case that giving up control of Diego Garcia would be a blow to U.S. interests in the region.
“The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY” – Donald Trump
The Chagossian Community and Public Sentiment
The Chagossian community, estimated to number around 10,000 globally, has largely opposed the transfer of sovereignty from the UK to Mauritius. Most Chagossians now live in the UK, Mauritius and Seychelles, having been forcibly removed from their homeland. A recent poll conducted by Whitestone Insight indicates that over 93% of the Chagossian population would much rather remain under British jurisdiction. They are against the transfer of sovereignty to Mauritius.
On January 7, Chagossians demonstrated in front of the Houses of Parliament in London in opposition to the proposed handover. Their powerful actions highlighted their fight for recognition and justice for having been forcibly removed and made extinct from their original homeland.
“Paying to surrender the Chagos Islands is not just an act of stupidity, but of complete self-sabotage” – Kemi Badenoch
Implications for U.S.-UK Relations
Trump’s remarks have sparked a broader discussion about U.S.-UK relations and geopolitical strategy. The former president’s criticism highlights concerns about national security and the importance of maintaining U.S. military presence in the Indian Ocean region. From his perspective, giving up control of Diego Garcia would be a loss of American power and security in a strategically important region.
Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage weighed in on this issue, suggesting that Americans feel misled regarding their military commitments and territorial agreements. His comments are an illustration of a new political mood among some politicians that maybe it’s time to rethink our international alliances.
“The Americans have woken up to the fact that they were lied to” – Nigel Farage
