Diego Garcia

Diego Garcia is an island within the Chagos Archipelago, a British Indian Ocean Territory, home to a strategically vital US-UK military base. The UK has agreed to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. This agreement is now facing unexpected opposition from former US President Donald Trump, who previously endorsed the deal. Trump now criticizes the UK's plan, calling it an act of "great stupidity" and suggesting it could jeopardize US access to the Diego Garcia base. He links his opposition to his desire for the US to acquire Greenland, implying the UK's actions demonstrate weakness. The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, defends the Chagos deal and intends to proceed with the transfer despite Trump's criticism. The situation is newsworthy due to the potential impact on US military interests, the UK-US relationship, and the long-standing dispute over the Chagos Islands' sovereignty.