Downing Street insists US support remains despite Trump’s attack on the UK plan to cede Chagos

The UK government has confirmed it will proceed with plans to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, despite fierce criticism from US President Donald Trump, who branded the move an act of “great stupidity” and a threat to national security.

Downing Street insisted its position remains unchanged and said the United States continues to support the agreement, which includes arrangements to protect the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base.

Trump’s comments, delivered as he escalated rhetoric over Greenland ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, caught ministers by surprise. The US president had previously endorsed the deal during a White House meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and it was formally backed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Despite that earlier approval, Trump used social media to attack the UK’s decision, describing it as a sign of “total weakness” and claiming it would embolden adversaries such as China and Russia.

He argued that giving up sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory, which includes Diego Garcia, undermined Western security and cited the move as one of the reasons he believes the United States must acquire Greenland.

Downing Street moved swiftly to reassure allies and critics alike. The prime minister’s official spokesperson said the agreement was essential to securing the long-term future of the joint US-UK military base.

“Our position remains unchanged,” the spokesperson said. “This deal secures the operations of the joint US-UK base for generations. It has robust provisions for keeping its unique capabilities intact and our adversaries out.”

The spokesperson added that the deal had been publicly welcomed by the United States and remained a cornerstone of the intelligence and security relationship between the two countries.

“As the world grows more dangerous, so too does the importance of the base for our national security,” they said. “Almost every operation from the base is in partnership with the US.”

Trump’s intervention has reignited fierce political debate in the UK. Conservative and Reform UK figures have seized on his remarks to intensify their opposition to the handover, despite previously criticising Trump’s threats over Greenland.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the plan amounted to “complete self-sabotage”, arguing it weakened UK and Nato security while surrendering sovereign territory.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage welcomed Trump’s criticism, claiming it had effectively blocked the handover, although the government has rejected that interpretation.

Senior ministers have made clear the agreement cannot be reversed. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said the deal with Mauritius had already been signed, legislated for and agreed in full.

“We’ve done a deal with the Mauritian government,” he said. “This is the way in which to secure that military base for the next 100 years.”

Welfare Secretary Pat McFadden suggested Trump’s remarks were driven more by frustration over Greenland than by genuine concern over Chagos. He said the situation should be resolved through diplomatic dialogue rather than inflammatory rhetoric.

Under the £3.4bn agreement, Britain will formally cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing Diego Garcia for 99 years to allow continued operation of the joint military base.

The deal has faced opposition in the House of Lords, but the government has repeatedly described it as a legal necessity. A United Nations court issued an advisory opinion in 2021 stating the UK did not have rightful sovereignty over the archipelago.

When the agreement was announced in May 2025, Rubio described it as historic and emphasised its importance to global security, saying it reflected the enduring strength of the US-UK relationship.

Critics continue to warn that Mauritius’s close relationship with China could create strategic vulnerabilities, a concern Trump frequently raises when discussing Greenland. The government, however, maintains that the agreement includes safeguards to prevent foreign interference and protect allied interests.

Despite mounting political pressure and transatlantic tension, Downing Street has made clear that the handover will go ahead.