The UK defended its deal to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after Donald Trump called it an “an act of GREAT STUPIDITY,” the BBC reports.
The UK says the deal protects the UK-US military base there, which was “under threat after court decisions undermined our position.”
Under the deal – yet to be ratified – the UK would hand over the islands but keep the base under a 99-year lease, which could be extended by 40 years.
But Trump says handing over the territory is one of the reasons he wants the US to take over Greenland.
Trump writes on Truth Social: “Shockingly, our “brilliant” NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER”
The Trump administration has previously backed the deal – in May, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a “monumental achievement.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the 99-year lease on the military base will cost the UK £101m a year.
