UK, Mauritius Defend Chagos Sovereignty Deal After Trump Calls It 'Great Stupidity'

Overview

• On Jan. 20, President Donald Trump condemned the planned handover of Chagos to Mauritius, labeling it weakness and linking it to his push for acquiring Greenland.
• Downing Street said the pact guarantees operations at the joint UK‑US base for generations and includes robust security provisions.
• Mauritius backed the accord, with Justice Minister Gavin Glover saying he expects the UK to continue the legislative process already underway.
• The treaty legislation remains under debate in Parliament, as opposition figures welcomed Trump’s intervention, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage.
• Signed in 2025, the deal returns sovereignty to Mauritius, provides a 99‑year arrangement for Diego Garcia with £101 million paid annually, and follows a 2019 ICJ advisory opinion urging the UK to relinquish control.