Washington, DC, January 20 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday sharply criticized the United Kingdom over its plans to transfer Diego Garcia island, home to a key US military base, to Mauritius, calling the move an act of “great stupidity.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said London’s decision was among several reasons Greenland must be “acquired.” He wrote that the UK, a NATO ally, was planning to hand over Diego Garcia “for no reason whatsoever,” despite its strategic importance to US military operations.
“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,” Trump said. He added that China and Russia would view the move as a sign of weakness and argued that major powers only respect strength. Trump claimed the decision was “another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired,” urging Denmark and its European allies to “do the right thing.”
Trump’s remarks followed the third reading of the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill in the UK Parliament on January 13. Under the UK-Mauritius Treaty signed in 2025, Mauritius would exercise full sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, while the UK would retain rights over Diego Garcia for an initial 99-year period.
During that period, the UK is expected to pay Mauritius approximately £3.4 billion in 2025–26 prices. According to the UK government, the agreement resolves the long-standing sovereignty dispute over the British Indian Ocean Territory and secures the continued operation of the military base in the long term, as noted by the UK House of Commons Library.
Trump’s sharp criticism contrasts with the position taken by the Biden administration, under which the United States welcomed the Chagos Archipelago agreement between the UK and Mauritius. Former President Joe Biden had described the deal as a historic diplomatic achievement, affirming Mauritian sovereignty while allowing the UK to exercise sovereign rights over Diego Garcia.
The latest comments also follow Trump’s recent telephone conversation with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte about Greenland. Trump said he would meet several parties in Davos and reiterated his view that Greenland is critical to US and global security.
“I had a very good telephone call with Mark Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO, concerning Greenland,” Trump said in a separate post. “Greenland is imperative for National and World Security. There can be no going back.”
Previously, Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Denmark and other European countries, including the UK, unless they agree to sell Greenland. He has argued that acquiring the territory is necessary for national security, citing growing interest from China and Russia. Trump has warned of tariffs of 10 percent from February 1, 2026, and 25 percent from June 1, 2026, if no agreement is reached, saying it was “time for Denmark to give back” after years of US support.
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