US President Donald Trump has criticized the UK's plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, saying "this land should not be taken away from the UK".
The UK Foreign Office responded, stating that the Chagos Islands deal was "crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe".
According to the BBC, the deal, announced last May, would see the UK lease back Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago, for a period of 99 years.
Background on the Chagos Islands
The Chagos Islands, located about 5,799 miles south-east of the UK, have been under British control since 1814.
Mauritius has long argued that it was illegally forced to give the islands away as part of a deal to gain independence.
US Position on the Issue
Despite the US Department of State giving its official backing to the planned handover on Tuesday, Trump's latest comments suggest a change in position.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump's post on the Truth Social platform should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration.
Reactions from UK Politicians
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel described Trump's comments as "an utter humiliation" for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said that Trump's latest change in position showed that the UK needed to pursue closer ties with Europe.
