How Badenoch’s meeting with Mike Johnson led to Trump’s Chagos deal rant

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 5 min read 100% complete by Kiran Stacey and Pippa CrerarJanuary 21, 2026 at 09:00 PM

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A meeting between UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch and US House Speaker Mike Johnson regarding the Chagos Islands deal and North Sea oil drilling led to unexpected political fallout. Johnson subsequently contacted Donald Trump, who then publicly criticized the UK's agreement to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining a 99-year lease for a joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. Trump's intervention was perceived as an attempt to pressure the UK government, prompting a strong rebuke from the Prime Minister, who affirmed the UK's commitment to the deal and condemned the use of tariffs to influence allies. The situation has strained US-UK relations, potentially altering the dynamic between the two countries.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Kingdom of Denmark 40% Nigel Farage ×250% Greenland ×250% Keir Starmer 60% Mauritius ×260% Diego Garcia 65% United States 75% Kemi Badenoch 80% UK ×280% Chagos Islands ×385% Mike Johnson ×290% Donald Trump ×495%

Keywords

chagos islands deal 100% us-uk relations 80% donald trump 70% mike johnson 60% kemi badenoch 60% political consequences 50% transatlantic politics 50% tariffs 40% sovereignty 40%