Trump Says UK Handing Over Chagos Islands Sovereignty Is ‘Act of Total Weakness’

Under the terms of the deal, the UK–U.S. naval and bomber base on Diego Garcia would remain under UK control for at least 99 years.

President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as he departs the White House en route to London, on Sept. 16, 2025. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 criticised the UK’s decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling the move an “act of total weakness” and linking it to broader U.S. national security concerns.

Trump made the comments in a post on his Truth Social platform, where he condemned the UK’s handling of Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago and home to a major U.S.–UK military base.