Trump slams UK deal to hand over Chagos Islands after he previously backed it

Associated Press (AP)CenterEN 4 min read 100% complete by By JILL LAWLESSJanuary 20, 2026 at 11:53 AM

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long article 4 min

Donald Trump has criticized the UK's plan to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, despite his administration previously supporting the deal. The agreement, signed in May, would give Mauritius sovereignty after two centuries of British control, while the UK would lease back Diego Garcia, home to a vital US military base, for at least 99 years. Trump called the move an act of "great stupidity" and a sign of weakness, citing concerns about China and Russia. His remarks contradict Prime Minister Keir Starmer's efforts to ease tensions and repair the trans-Atlantic relationship, particularly regarding Greenland. The Chagos Islands are a remote but strategically important archipelago in the Indian Ocean.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

NATO 40% Russia 50% China 50% Keir Starmer ×260% Greenland ×360% United States ×270% Mauritius ×375% Diego Garcia ×380% UK ×480% Chagos Islands ×285% Donald Trump ×690%

Keywords

chagos islands 100% diego garcia 90% uk deal 80% sovereignty 70% trump 70% mauritius 60% u.s. military base 60% greenland 50% trans-atlantic relationship 40%

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Negative

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Associated Press (AP)

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Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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chagos islands diego garcia uk deal sovereignty trump mauritius u.s. military base greenland trans-atlantic relationship

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