U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hold a press conference following their meeting at Chequers, near Aylesbury, Britain, Sept. 18, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump has taken aim at another NATO ally on the eve of his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, this time lambasting the U.K.
The so-called “special relationship” between the U.S. and U.K., and President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, was left looking bruised on Tuesday after Trump posted a tirade against London’s decision to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
The islands include Diego Garcia where a joint U.K.-U.S. military base is stationed. The deal, which was agreed in May 2025, saw the British government agree to hand sovereignty to Mauritius, but to lease the military base on Diego Garcia for £101 million ($135.7 million) a year.
The White House voiced its support for the deal last year but, on Tuesday, Trump said it was “an act of great stupidity.”
“Shockingly, our “brilliant” NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER,” Trump posted on social media platform Truth Social early Tuesday.
The president said China and Russia would view this act as one of “total weakness” and that they were international powers that only recognized strength.
“The U.K. 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.”
He added that Denmark and its European allies, who oppose Trump’s takeover bid, had to “do the right thing.”
Trump’s comments come amid a growing rift between the U.S. and its European NATO allies, including the U.K. and France, over the president’s incessant pursuit of Greenland, a Danish territory in the Arctic.
Greenland, Denmark, and European leaders have said the island is not for sale, but Trump has not ruled out using military force to seize the territory if necessary. He has also threatened eight European NATO allies with escalating tariffs if they continue to block his takeover bid.
The U.K. is the second NATO ally to be lambasted by Trump in as many days, with the president threatening to impose 200% tariffs on French wines and Champagne on Monday after French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly turned down a seat on Trump’s “Board of Peace” for Gaza.
