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Diego Garcia Dispute: Trump Criticizes UK Plan, ⁣Links‌ to Greenland Acquisition

WASHINGTON – ⁣On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, former ⁤U.S. President‍ Donald Trump publicly ⁣criticized the United ‌Kingdom’s plan ⁤to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, including the island of Diego Garcia,‍ to Mauritius. Trump characterized ​the move as ​”a massive act of stupidity” and suggested it further justifies the United States acquiring Greenland. He voiced ⁣these concerns via‌ his‌ social media platform,Truth⁢ Social.

Background of the Dispute

Diego Garcia is a strategically vital island in the ⁣Indian Ocean,currently hosting ⁣a joint U.S.-UK military base.⁤ The island’s history is complex, marked by the forced ⁤displacement of its original inhabitants, the Chagossians, in the 1960s and 70s to ⁢make way for the base (Wikipedia). For‌ decades, ⁣the UK maintained control of the ‍Chagos Archipelago,‍ while the U.S. utilized Diego Garcia for military operations, ⁣notably during the ‍Cold war and ​the “War on Terror.”

UK-Mauritius Agreement

In ⁣october 2024, ⁢the United Kingdom announced an agreement to​ transfer ⁢sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius (Reuters). This agreement was formally ‌signed in May 2025.The transfer acknowledges Mauritius’s‍ long-standing claim⁢ to the ​islands ‌and aims to address the grievances of the chagossian people, who have been seeking⁢ the right to ⁢return to their homeland. However,the​ future ⁢of the U.S. military base remains a ‍key‌ point of contention.

Trump’s Reaction and Concerns

Trump strongly opposed the ⁤UK’s decision, stating ‌that⁢ relinquishing control of Diego‌ Garcia is a “total act of ⁢weakness” that Russia ⁤and China will exploit. He argued that the move undermines U.S. national security interests and ⁣provides further justification⁢ for the‍ U.S. to acquire Greenland, a territory he previously expressed interest in purchasing (BBC News