Trump calls UK's Chagos deal with Mauritius an 'act of total weakness'

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Britain's deal to cede sovereignty of the island of Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands to Mauritius was an "act of total weakness," adding that it was "another in a very long line of national security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired".



The island of Diego Garcia houses a strategically important U.S.-UK air base in the Indian Ocean.



Britain and Mauritius last year struck a deal to pass on the sovereignty of the Chagos islands to Mauritius while allowing Britain to retain control of the air base under a long-term lease.



The deal had previously been supported by the U.S. administration which said when it was signed in May that it "welcomed" the agreement and commended efforts to secure the long-term operation of the joint military base.



British senior minister Darren Jones said on Tuesday that the deal was the best option for the military base, allowing it to operate for the next 100 years.