US President Donald Trump has strongly criticised the United Kingdom’s plan to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling the move an act of great stupidity.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the UK was wrong to give up control of Diego Garcia, home to a key US military base. He said the decision weakens security and sends the wrong message to rival powers such as China and Russia.
Under the deal, Britain plans to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back the Diego Garcia base for 99 years. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the lease would cost the UK £101 million a year.
Trump said the agreement is one of the reasons he believes the United States should take control of Greenland for national security reasons. He accused the UK of giving away important land without any clear benefit.
The Trump administration had earlier supported the Chagos deal. In May last year, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described it as a major achievement and welcomed the agreement.
European leaders have defended the UK’s decision, saying the deal helps secure the future of the military base and avoids long legal disputes over the islands’ ownership.
With inputs from BBC