Trump opens UK deal on Chagos Islands, says it’s another reason why “Greenland should be found” by the US.

London – President Trump called the UK’s decision to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius – an agreement his administration previously supported – an act of “absolute stupidity” that confirmed his desire that the US found Greenland. One of the islands, Diego Garcia, is home to an important UK-US military base in the Indian Ocean.

“Shockingly, our ‘smart’ NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to hand over the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of an important US Military Base, to Mauritius, and do so WITHOUT REASON,” said Mr. “There is no doubt that China and Russia have realized this act of complete weakness. These World Powers only realize POWER, that is why the United States of America, under my leadership, now, after only one year, is respected in a way that has never been seen before. The UK to give the most important land is an act of GREAT ARMY, and it is one of the longest line of National Security reasons why Greenland should receive all the European RIGHT. you for your attention in this matter.

Mr. Trump issued his statement as Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson, a Republican, was in the UK to address the British parliament, where he told members of parliament that the US and the UK “have always been able to resolve our differences peacefully as friends. We will continue to do so. I want to assure you this morning that is still the case.”

The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius, then a British colony, in 1965.

The UK bought the islands for about $4 million, CBS News partner BBC News reported, but Mauritius had previously argued that it was forced to give up the islands in exchange for independence in 1968. The UK invited the US to build a military base on the island of Diego Garcia, and it has become the backbone of America’s defense infrastructure in the vast Indian Ocean region.

In 2019, the International Court of Justice issued a non-binding ruling asking the UK to relinquish control of the Chagos Islands, saying it had unjustly forced the people living in Diego Garcia to open a military base.

That decision, in part, led to an agreement reached in 2024 for the UK to cede sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. As part of the deal, Britain gained control of the Diego Garcia military base on a 99-year lease, at a cost to the UK of $136 million a year.

The Trump administration previously supported the Chagos Islands agreement, when Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement in May of last year saying, “following a comprehensive interagency review, the Trump Administration has determined that this agreement protects the long-term, stable, and effective operation of the US-UK military facility in Diego Garcia.”

Rubio said at the time Mr. Trump “expressed his support for this great achievement when he met with Prime Minister Starmer at the White House,” calling the base “an important asset for regional and global security.”

In a statement sent to CBS News on Tuesday, a UK government spokesman said Britain “will never compromise our national security,” noting that the deal with Mauritius was struck “because Diego Garcia’s foundation was in jeopardy after court rulings undermined our position and would prevent us from operating as intended in the future.”

“This agreement protects the operation of the US-UK joint base in Diego Garcia for generations, with strong provisions to keep its unique strength strong and our enemies out,” said the British government, noting that it was previously “publicly accepted by the US, Australia and all other Five Eyes participants, as well as major international partners including India, Japan and South Korea.”

Five Eyes refers to the close defense and intelligence relationship between the US, Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.