The UK government has issued a statement defending the Chagos Islands deal in the light of the condemnation of it from US President, Donald Trump.
This came after in a series of social media post criticised the UK’s decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in return for an agreement that the UK and the US will still be able to use the Diego Garcia military base for at least another 99 years.
The Trump administration approved the deal when it was negotiated, accepting the Downing Street argument that this would remove the risk of the UK and the US losing access to Diego Garcia under international law. However, Trump now says this is a sign of weakness.
“There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness…The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired. “
Donald Trump
Despite Trump’s criticism, a UK Government Spokesperson said that the UK will never compromise on its national security.
“We acted because the base on Diego Garcia was under threat after court decisions undermined our position and would have prevented it operating as intended in future.”
UK Government Spokesperson
The Spokesperson emphasised that the deal secures the operations of the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia for generations, with robust provisions for keeping its unique capabilities intact and our adversaries out.
The Spokesperson added that the deal has been publicly welcomed by the US, Australia and all other Five Eyes allies, as well as key international partners including India, Japan and South Korea.
Separately, Tim Farron, a former Liberal Democrat leader, said, “We have real concerns about the [Chagos Islands] proposals, and we’ve challenged them in both the Commons and the Lords.”
However, he said, Trump was “in favour of all that.” “This is just all silly nonsense from him, because he’s feeling aggrieved that people are not rolling over when it comes to Greenland,” he added.
Farron also expressed that he wanted Keir Starmer to be more robust in his handling of Trump, saying, “The problem I have with Keir Starmer is that he’s still being too weak when it comes to Donald Trump.”
“Our friends across the Channel are being much stronger. They’re saying they would reciprocate with tariffs.We know the way to deal with bullies is not to appease them. It’s to stand up to them. Otherwise, you end up being their victims.’
Tim Farron
Badenoch Welcomes Trump’s Criticism Of Chagos Islands Deal
Leader of the Conservative party, Kemi Badenoch warmly welcomed Donald Trump’s comments.
The Conservative party has consistently opposed the Chagos Islands deal even though the negotiations with Mauritius that led to the treaty agreed by Labour first started when the Tories were in office.
She took to social media, saying, “paying to surrender the Chagos Islands is not just an act of stupidity, but of complete self sabotage.”
“I’ve been clear and unfortunately on this issue President Trump is right. Keir Starmer’s plan to give away the Chagos Islands is a terrible policy that weakens UK security and hands away our sovereign territory. And to top it off, makes us and our NATO allies weaker in face of our enemies.
“Last night I met Speaker Johnson and we are united in that view. Britain’s and America’s interests align. Keir Starmer has the chance to change course on Chagos. Conservatives call on President Trump to reconsider Greenland too.”
Kemi Badenoch
Meanwhile, Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Office Minister, said that it is too late to undo the Chagos Islands deal.
In an interview with Times Radio, Jones said the treaty has been signed with the Mauritian government “so I can’t reverse the clock on that.”
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