UK-US Clash Over Diego Garcia Transfer to Mauritius

Strategic Island Dispute Sparks Transatlantic Tension

Former President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on the United Kingdom's decision to transfer sovereignty of the strategic Chagos Islands to Mauritius, creating a diplomatic rift between the two NATO allies. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called the move 'an act of great stupidity' that endangers U.S. national security interests.

'Shockingly, our 'brilliant' NATO ally the United Kingdom is planning to give the island of Diego Garcia, where a major U.S. military base is located, to Mauritius, and that WITHOUT ANY REASON,' Trump wrote, highlighting his opposition to the transfer agreement signed in May 2025.

The Strategic Importance of Diego Garcia

Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago, hosts a critical joint UK-U.S. military base that has been operational since the 1970s. The base serves as one of America's most important strategic assets in the Indian Ocean, supporting operations across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Approximately 2,500 military personnel are stationed on the remote island, which lies about 3,500 kilometers east of Tanzania.

The base has been described as critical to U.S. national security, serving as a key logistics hub and bomber base in the Indo-Pacific region alongside Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.

The Controversial Transfer Agreement

In May 2025, the UK and Mauritius signed an agreement transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands while establishing a 99-year lease for the Diego Garcia military base. The deal, which can be extended for an additional 40 years, requires Britain to pay Mauritius approximately £101 million annually, potentially totaling £30 billion over the full lease period.

According to Sky News analysis, the agreement was negotiated to prevent the UK from losing control of the islands through international court challenges. The International Court of Justice ruled in 2019 that the UK's administration of the Chagos Archipelago was illegal, and the United Nations supported this position.

Historical Context and Human Rights Concerns

The controversy dates back to the 1960s when the UK created the British Indian Ocean Territory by separating the Chagos Islands from Mauritius before the latter's independence in 1968. Between 1968 and 1973, the UK forcibly removed approximately 2,000 Chagossian inhabitants to make way for the U.S. military base.

Human Rights Watch has documented this forced displacement as a crime against humanity, noting that the UK falsely claimed the islands had no permanent population despite centuries of Chagossian habitation. The indigenous population was abandoned in Mauritius, Seychelles, and Britain, where many lived in poverty.

Trump's Greenland Connection

Trump's criticism of the Diego Garcia transfer appears connected to his longstanding interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark. He suggested that the UK's action demonstrates why the U.S. should pursue territorial acquisitions like Greenland.

'This shows exactly why Greenland should be taken by the United States,' Trump reportedly stated, linking the two territorial issues. His comments come after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized Trump's previous statements about Greenland as 'completely wrong.'

Geopolitical Implications

The dispute highlights growing tensions in the Indian Ocean region, where China has been expanding its influence. Some analysts express concern that Mauritius, which has developed closer ties with China in recent years, could eventually restrict access to the Diego Garcia base.

Despite Trump's criticism, the transfer agreement received support from key U.S. allies including Australia, India, Japan, and South Korea, who view it as necessary to secure the base's long-term future. The deal also includes provisions allowing Chagossian resettlement on all islands except Diego Garcia, though many Chagossians protest they weren't adequately consulted.

The agreement requires ratification by both the UK and Mauritian parliaments, and its implementation will be closely watched by military strategists and human rights advocates alike.