Trump shifts position on UK Chagos Agreement amid Greenland security focus
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Jan 20, 2026, 23:28 IST
Disagreement emerged when former President Donald Trump voiced concerns over Britain's decision involving the Chagos Islands. Security considerations were highlighted amid discussion of the handover to Mauritius. This stance coincided with revived attention on American interest in Greenland. Geopolitical reasoning shaped the perspective presented during commentary. Transfer plans drew scrutiny under broader strategic review.
TL;DR
President Trump did not approve the UK's choice to give the Chagos Islands back to Mauritius, even though his government had previously backed the decision. He claimed that the action made the West security situation worse and said that it was a strong case for his acquiring Greenland.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump hit back at the UK over handing control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritium. He labeled the choice a serious blunder. This step, he claimed, ties into why America should take hold of Greenland. Security concerns shaped his view. The remark came amid wider talk about U.S. global strategy.
Trump posted on Truth Social, saying Britain was making Western defenses weaker by handing over Diego Garcia. This island holds an important U.S.-UK military facility in the Indian Ocean. "Our so-called smart NATO partner, the UK, is actually working out how to transfer Diego Garcia - to Mauritius," he said. The base matters. It belongs to America's global network. His view? Enemies like China and Russia will see this move. They’ll interpret it as hesitation. A sign of fading resolve shows up when allies step back like this. Decisions like these do not go unnoticed.
He claimed this step made it clearer than ever that the U.S. should take control of Greenland, urging Denmark along with others in Europe to finally act properly
Now things are different than what his team once said. Back in May 2024, Marco Rubio stood by the deal - he explained it came out of a full government check and would keep the U.S.-UK base running long into the future on Diego Garcia. That support included confirmation from Trump himself, who approved it face to face with UK leader Keir Starmer at the White House.
Back in 1965, before Mauritius became independent, the UK took the Chagos Islands away. Around four million dollars changed hands, reports BBC News. From that point on, Mauritius insisted pressure had forced the deal through. Independence in 1968 came with strings attached, they said.
Back in 2019, the International Court of Justice made a symbolic decision - pointing out how the UK improperly removed people from the islands and urging it hand authority back to Mauritius. This move quietly set things in motion, leading years later to the 2024 deal where Britain keeps operating Diego Garcia under a long-term lease worth around $136 million each year.
A spokesperson for the British government said in a statement to CBS News that the deal was necessary to protect national security. “This agreement was struck because court decisions had undermined our position and threatened the future operation of the base,” the spokesperson said. “This deal secures the operations of the joint U.S.-UK base for generations.”
Not long ago, the spokesperson mentioned something. Public approval came through from several places after the deal was shared widely. Among those speaking up were countries like the United States and Australia. That group connects closely under a network known as Five Eyes - Canada and New Zealand belong too. Others who aren’t part of that circle still showed support. Names like India stood out, along with Japan. South Korea did as well, adding their voice quietly but clearly.
Fresh off the back of remarks by Trump, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke before Britain's Parliament. Calm words flowed from him toward legislators - differences between countries don’t have to boil over, he suggested, when trust runs deep
Home to American forces, Diego Garcia sits deep in the Indian Ocean, shaping how power moves through these waters. Though small on maps, its reach stretches far - watching trade lanes, tracking movements near conflict zones. This base does not host parades or public events; instead, quiet runways hum with long-range patrols. From here, flights adjust course mid-mission based on shifting threats. Ships anchor briefly before vanishing into open sea. Not much is said about what happens ashore - but decisions made here echo outward. Few question why so many nations keep an eye on this speck of land.
Nowhere else on Earth does such a clash of ambitions play out quite like in Greenland, where Trump sees strategic value amid melting ice. Instead of backing down, he frames the territory as key to blocking rivals’ moves worldwide. Copenhagen scoffs at the notion, calling it unnecessary and unwelcome. Leaders in Nuuk stress they make their own decisions, no exceptions
The land won’t be sold off. Territory stays put.
President Trump did not approve the UK's choice to give the Chagos Islands back to Mauritius, even though his government had previously backed the decision. He claimed that the action made the West security situation worse and said that it was a strong case for his acquiring Greenland.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump hit back at the UK over handing control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritium. He labeled the choice a serious blunder. This step, he claimed, ties into why America should take hold of Greenland. Security concerns shaped his view. The remark came amid wider talk about U.S. global strategy.
Trump posted on Truth Social, saying Britain was making Western defenses weaker by handing over Diego Garcia. This island holds an important U.S.-UK military facility in the Indian Ocean. "Our so-called smart NATO partner, the UK, is actually working out how to transfer Diego Garcia - to Mauritius," he said. The base matters. It belongs to America's global network. His view? Enemies like China and Russia will see this move. They’ll interpret it as hesitation. A sign of fading resolve shows up when allies step back like this. Decisions like these do not go unnoticed.
He claimed this step made it clearer than ever that the U.S. should take control of Greenland, urging Denmark along with others in Europe to finally act properly
Now things are different than what his team once said. Back in May 2024, Marco Rubio stood by the deal - he explained it came out of a full government check and would keep the U.S.-UK base running long into the future on Diego Garcia. That support included confirmation from Trump himself, who approved it face to face with UK leader Keir Starmer at the White House.
Back in 1965, before Mauritius became independent, the UK took the Chagos Islands away. Around four million dollars changed hands, reports BBC News. From that point on, Mauritius insisted pressure had forced the deal through. Independence in 1968 came with strings attached, they said.
Back in 2019, the International Court of Justice made a symbolic decision - pointing out how the UK improperly removed people from the islands and urging it hand authority back to Mauritius. This move quietly set things in motion, leading years later to the 2024 deal where Britain keeps operating Diego Garcia under a long-term lease worth around $136 million each year.
A spokesperson for the British government said in a statement to CBS News that the deal was necessary to protect national security. “This agreement was struck because court decisions had undermined our position and threatened the future operation of the base,” the spokesperson said. “This deal secures the operations of the joint U.S.-UK base for generations.”
Not long ago, the spokesperson mentioned something. Public approval came through from several places after the deal was shared widely. Among those speaking up were countries like the United States and Australia. That group connects closely under a network known as Five Eyes - Canada and New Zealand belong too. Others who aren’t part of that circle still showed support. Names like India stood out, along with Japan. South Korea did as well, adding their voice quietly but clearly.
Fresh off the back of remarks by Trump, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke before Britain's Parliament. Calm words flowed from him toward legislators - differences between countries don’t have to boil over, he suggested, when trust runs deep
Home to American forces, Diego Garcia sits deep in the Indian Ocean, shaping how power moves through these waters. Though small on maps, its reach stretches far - watching trade lanes, tracking movements near conflict zones. This base does not host parades or public events; instead, quiet runways hum with long-range patrols. From here, flights adjust course mid-mission based on shifting threats. Ships anchor briefly before vanishing into open sea. Not much is said about what happens ashore - but decisions made here echo outward. Few question why so many nations keep an eye on this speck of land.
Nowhere else on Earth does such a clash of ambitions play out quite like in Greenland, where Trump sees strategic value amid melting ice. Instead of backing down, he frames the territory as key to blocking rivals’ moves worldwide. Copenhagen scoffs at the notion, calling it unnecessary and unwelcome. Leaders in Nuuk stress they make their own decisions, no exceptions
The land won’t be sold off. Territory stays put.