UK ‘stupid’ for giving away land, says Trump
US President Donald Trump has criticised the UK’s decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling the decision ‘an act of great stupidity’.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump took aim at the UK and its decision to cede territory. The UK has signed a £3.4 billion agreement to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, but the deal is facing significant opposition in the House of Lords.
“Shockingly, our “brilliant” Nato Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital US Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER,” he said.
“There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness. These are International Powers who only recognise STRENGTH, which is why the United States of America, under my leadership, is now, after only one year, respected like never before.
“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.”
Increasingly hostile
Trump’s comments come amid increased tensions between the US, the UK, and the EU, as Trump has increasingly pushed to take control of Greenland from Denmark.
The US has subsequently slapped trade tariffs on several European countries, including the UK, over the decision to stand alongside Denmark against Trump.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has spoken out against US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on the UK and other countries that oppose his plan to acquire Greenland.
Trump has announced that he will impose 10% tariffs on a number of countries that have sent troops to Greenland, including the UK, Denmark, Norway, France, and Germany. He threatened to increase these tariffs to 25% by 1 June.
In an address on Monday 19 January, Starmer said that he was determined to preserve the close relationship of the UK with the US but that the imposition of tariffs was completely wrong and would hurt British workers and damage the British economy.
He reiterated his position that the future of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.
“There is a principle here that cannot be set aside because it goes to the heart of how stable and trusted international cooperation works,” Starmer said.
He acknowledged that the security of Greenland would becoming increasingly important as new sea routes open in the arctic, adding that the UK would continue to work with the US on defence and intelligence.
Starmer did not explicitly rule out retaliatory tariffs agains the US, but he said that a trade war would be in nobody’s interest.
