January 20, 2026, 11:01 amJanuary 20, 2026, 11:01 am
In the midst of the Greenland crisis, US President Donald Trump attacked NATO partner Great Britain for a strategic decision in the Indian Ocean.
Donald Trump writes on his social media platform that Great Britain is planning to hand over the island of Diego Garcia to MauritiusImage: keystone
The return of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, agreed after long negotiations, was “an act of great stupidity,” wrote Trump on his Truth Social platform. It is also “another” reason why Greenland must be handed over to the USA.
The British announced the Chagos decision in May 2025. However, an exception applies to the island of Diego Garcia, which is crucial for Trump and on which there is a military base used jointly by Great Britain and the USA. Despite Mauritius’ sovereignty, the island is expected to remain under British control for at least 99 years. The British are paying billions for this.
Trump’s U-turn
The US government expressly welcomed the deal last year – according to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, so did Trump himself. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the time that Trump had expressed his “support for this monumental achievement.”
Now the US President wrote to Truth Social without the context of the lease agreement that Great Britain was planning to hand over the island of Diego Garcia to Mauritius. There is “no doubt” that China and Russia have noticed this “act of total weakness”. The US President cites an alleged threat from these two states as the main reason why the US should own Greenland, which belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.Image: keystone
The Chagos Islands are located in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Starmer had described the location of the military base as “of the utmost importance for Great Britain”. The base is one of the most important contributions that the country makes in the security partnership with the USA. In Great Britain, Trump’s latest criticism is also seen as a sign of significantly deteriorating relations between the US President and the British Prime Minister. (sda/dpa)