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" in a post on social media.
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 UK Foreign Office, "The agreement we have reached is the only way to guarantee the long-term future of this vital military base,"
Trump's comments come despite Washington giving its official backing to London's plan to cede sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius on Tuesday, as reported by the BBC.
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. The islands were bought by the government for £3m, leading to the establishment of the islands as an overseas territory in 1965.
Mauritius has long argued that it was illegally forced to give the islands away as part of a deal to gain independence. In the late 1960s, Britain invited the US to build a military base on Diego Garcia, forcibly removing thousands of people from their homes in the process.
Reaction from UK Officials
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said Trump's latest comments were "an utter humiliation" for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Trump's latest change in position showed that the UK needed to pursue closer ties with Europe.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "The post should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration, it's coming straight from the horse's mouth." When asked by the BBC about Trump's comments, Leavitt emphasized the importance of transparency in the administration's policies.
US Position on the Issue
Trump's position on the issue has seen rapid U-turns in recent months. The US Department of State gave its official backing to the planned handover of the Chagos Islands, stating that it "supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago".
