Trump says U.Ok. return of Chagos Islands to Mauritius is cause to accumulate Greenland : NPR

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U.S. Navy/by way of AP LONDON — President Trump has accused the U.Ok. of "nice stupidity" over its choice final 12 months to surrender sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, an archipelago within the Indian Ocean and residential to one of the vital essential U.S.-U.Ok. army bases at Diego Garcia.

Trump recommended that Britain's choice to cede the islands to Mauritius is likely one of the causes behind his need to take over the semi-autonomous territory of Greenland, which is managed by Denmark.

Underneath the Chagos settlement — signed by the U.Ok. and Mauritius in Might 2025 — the U.Ok. can proceed leasing Diego Garcia, maintaining the important thing army facility in British and American arms for 99 years at a value of greater than $100 million a 12 months. U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described Diego Garcia as important for Britain's protection, intelligence and nationwide safety.

The U.S. had beforehand signaled assist for the settlement between the U.Ok. and Mauritius, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying in a press release final Might that President Trump "expressed his assist for this monumental achievement."

However in a put up on Reality Social early Tuesday morning — simply hours earlier than a historic deal with to the U.Ok. Parliament by Home Speaker Mike Johnson — Trump took a markedly totally different tone. "Shockingly, our 'sensible' NATO Ally, the UK, is at the moment planning to provide away the Island of Diego Garcia, the positioning of an important U.S. Navy Base, to Mauritius, and to take action FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER," Trump mentioned within the put up.

"There is no such thing as a doubt that China and Russia have observed this act of complete weak point," he mentioned. "The UK giving freely extraordinarily essential land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is one other in a really lengthy line of Nationwide Safety explanation why Greenland must be acquired."

This modification in tone is the most recent pressure on the transatlantic relationship, and comes a day after Starmer insisted in a nationwide deal with that "calm discussions between allies" was one of the simplest ways to beat variations with the U.S. over Greenland.

In response to Trump's criticisms, the British prime minister's workplace mentioned in a press release on Tuesday that the deal was obligatory to guard the U.S.-U.Ok. army base.

"The UK won't ever compromise on our nationwide safety. We acted as a result of the bottom on Diego Garcia was underneath risk after courtroom choices undermined our place and would have prevented it working as meant in future," the assertion mentioned, referring to previous worldwide courtroom rulings that sided with Mauritius and mentioned the U.Ok. had to surrender sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. "This deal secures the operations of the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia for generations, with strong provisions for maintaining its distinctive capabilities intact and our adversaries out."

The assertion mentioned that the settlement had been backed by the U.Ok.'s intelligence allies, together with the U.S., saying, "it has been publicly welcomed by the US, Australia and all different 5 Eyes allies, in addition to key worldwide companions together with India, Japan and South Korea."

Talking within the Home of Commons, Minister of State for Europe, North America and Abroad Territories Stephen Doughty mentioned he was "shocked" by Trump's feedback, and mentioned the U.Ok. would "have discussions with the [U.S.] administration within the coming days to remind them of the energy of this deal and the way it secures the bottom."

Home Speaker Johnson, within the U.Ok. to mark 250 years of U.S. independence, acknowledged mounting tensions in his remarks to the Parliament, saying he'd spoken with the president on Monday and "I felt that my mission right here in the present day was to encourage our buddies and assist to calm the waters, so to talk."