The British government defended its decision to transfer sovereignty from the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on Tuesday, after strong criticism from US President Donald Trump. A project that has been supported until now by the American administration.
Donald Trump called this decision "an act of great stupidity", believing that London was preparing to cede a strategic territory in the Indian Ocean housing an essential American military base, on the island of Diego Garcia. In a message posted on his Truth Social network, he denounced what he sees as a sign of weakness, saying China and Russia could benefit.
The American president also made the link with his desire to take control of Greenland, citing national security imperatives.
Last May, the United Kingdom and Mauritius signed an agreement providing for the transfer of sovereignty from the Chagos Islands to Port Louis. London will, however, retain the use of Diego Garcia by leasing it for at least 99 years, in order to maintain the joint military base with the United States.
At the time, Washington welcomed the agreement, saying it guaranteed the long-term stability and functioning of this strategic facility. On Tuesday, British Minister Darren Jones assured that the agreement would make it possible to secure the base for "the next hundred years".
But in the United Kingdom, several opposition parties denounce a risk to national security and fear a strengthening of Chinese influence in the region.
The Diego Garcia base, which hosts around 2,500 troops, mostly American, is considered by the United States to be a key part of its security operations in the Middle East, South Asia and East Africa.
