Trump calls UK’s Chagos deal with Mauritius ‘stupid’ and ‘weak’
Summary
US President Donald Trump criticized the UK-Mauritius deal on the Chagos Archipelago as an act of weakness and stupidity, sparking tensions with UK leaders amid strategic concerns over the Diego Garcia military base.
Key Points
- US President Donald Trump condemned the UK's deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius as an act of 'total weakness' and 'great stupidity'.
- The deal retains UK control over the Diego Garcia military base under a 99-year lease, essential for US-UK military operations.
- The British government defended the agreement, citing national security reasons due to legal challenges threatening the base's operation.
- The controversy adds strain to UK-US relations, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling for calm dialogue amid Trump's criticism and calls over Greenland acquisition.
