"I have discussed the Chagos issue with President Donald Trump multiple times. The matter was also raised with the White House late last week and early this week," UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated on 28/1, while en route to China.

Starmer made this statement when asked about President Trump's criticism, who called the UK's decision to return the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius an "idiotic act."

Prime Minister Starmer added, "Our position is that when the Trump administration intervened, we paused for three months to allow them time to review the Chagos agreement, which they did at the government agency level. After their review, they issued a clear statement supporting the agreement, including President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the Department of Defense."

He further stated that the Trump administration had thoroughly reviewed the agreement's content, making it difficult for the US President to misunderstand its terms.

Sources from the UK Prime Minister's Office indicated that Prime Minister Starmer and his Mauritian counterpart ratified the Chagos Archipelago return agreement in 5/2025, confirming it as "finalized" and impervious to US obstruction.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a cabinet meeting at Downing Street, London on 27/1. *AP*

The Chagos Archipelago, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, comprises about 60 islands located more than 2,400 km south of India. The UK maintained control of Chagos after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s.

In 2019, the International Court of Justice recommended that the UK return the archipelago to Mauritius following decades of legal disputes. In 5/2025, the UK and Mauritius reached an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, while the UK retains control of the airbase on Diego Garcia under a long-term lease.

Diego Garcia island, spanning 30 square kilometers, hosts a strategic US and UK airbase in the region. Trump initially expressed skepticism about the plan to return the archipelago, but after a meeting with Prime Minister Starmer at the White House in 2/2025, he gave the green light to the agreement.

However, on 19/1, the US President criticized the UK as "incredibly foolish" for agreeing to return Chagos to Mauritius. He added, "This is yet one more example on a long list of national security reasons why the United States must control Greenland."

Location of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. *Britannica*

Trump's sudden shift initially surprised the UK government, as they believed the agreement had been finalized months prior. This development later led to a firmer stance from Prime Minister Starmer regarding Greenland, with him declaring "no concessions will be made."

Sources from the UK Prime Minister's Office stated that the UK government received no information from the US State Department or US intelligence agencies to suggest Washington had changed its position on the Chagos Archipelago return agreement, despite President Trump's strong remarks.

According to the source, the US President's abrupt change of stance is linked to his efforts to gain control of Greenland, a strategically important Arctic territory.

The next stage of the bill concerning the return of the Chagos Archipelago has been delayed in the UK Parliament due to ongoing discussions with the United States.

A spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister's Office stated, "We are continuing to work with the United States. Throughout the development of this agreement, we have collaborated closely with them, and as ministers have made clear, we will continue to do so."

Huyen Le (According to Guardian, AFP)