Chagos Archipelago Talks Resume Between UK and US

Discussions regarding the future of the Chagos archipelago in the Indian Ocean have reportedly reignited. This comes after President Donald Trump expressed skepticism about a deal that would see Britain hand over sovereignty to Mauritius.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed on Wednesday that these talks had resumed, following Trump’s remarks where he criticized the arrangement, labeling it “a very stupid thing,” as reported by GB News.

Trump took to Truth Social, stating, “Shockingly, our ‘illustrious’ NATO ally, the United Kingdom, is now planning to cede Diego Garcia Island, the site of a critical US military base, to Mauritius. And it will do so for no reason whatsoever.” He added that nations like China and Russia might perceive this as an act of weakness. He warned that giving up such an important territory would be “very foolish” for the UK, alongside a remark about America needing to acquire Greenland for national security purposes.

The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius during the British decolonization and were deemed illegally occupied by an international court back in 2019. Britain had agreed to transfer sovereignty while retaining lease rights for Diego Garcia for at least 99 years, costing around $160 million annually.

Diego Garcia serves as a central hub for military logistics, bombers, and power projection across regions including the Middle East, Indo-Pacific, and Africa. About 2,500 military and civilian personnel, primarily American, operate from the base, which plays a vital role in intelligence gathering and military communications.

During a flight to China, Starmer mentioned he had discussed the Chagos situation several times with Trump, though he did not confirm if it had been addressed during their recent phone call, according to reports from the Financial Times.

Starmer added that discussions regarding the issue with the White House took place late last week and into the weekend. He noted that when Trump assumed office, the UK paused the agreement for three months so the US could evaluate it at an agency level. After that, it was clear that UK support for the deal was reaffirmed through official statements.

A spokesperson for Downing Street confirmed that they were actively working to ease any concerns from Washington regarding the situation. “As we have done throughout the process, we will continue to engage with the United States on this important issue, ensuring that the interests of both nations are addressed,” the report stated.

Trump’s remarks regarding the Chagos Agreement were met with approval from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who expressed on X that he was pleased Trump rejected the potential surrender of the Chagos Islands.

Fox News Digital reached out for comments from both the White House and Downing Street.