Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party and a prominent ally of the recently elected US President Donald Trump, has voiced strong opposition to the United Kingdom’s recent agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. During discussions in the UK Parliament, Farage declared that the Trump administration would react with “outright hostility” towards this deal. His comments come in light of mounting concerns from American officials, who have suggested that this agreement could significantly increase China’s influence in the strategically important region.
Farage’s insights on the issue resonate with a growing apprehension among various sectors of American politics. He highlighted that Trump’s advisors see the deal as a potential risk to national security. Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty, however, defended the agreement, assuring members of Parliament that it has garnered widespread support from America’s national security apparatus. He expressed confidence that the comprehensive details of the arrangement would address these concerns effectively.
The deal entails the UK ceding sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, while still maintaining control over the key military base located on Diego Garcia for an initial term of 99 years. As Doughty explained, the agreement aims to eliminate legal ambiguities surrounding ownership of the islands, particularly in light of international rulings backing Mauritius’s claims. Despite these assurances, critics argue that the archipelago’s strategic significance—officially designated as the British Indian Ocean Territory—could inadvertently bolster China’s standing in the region, particularly in the context of mounting geopolitical tensions.
Following the announcement, several US Republicans expressed their disapproval of the agreement. While the outgoing Biden administration has shown support for the arrangement, Trump has yet to publicly comment on the matter. Farage articulated his belief that the UK made an “enormous mistake” in finalizing this agreement before the recent presidential election, arguing that it would lead to unfavorable relations with the incoming administration.
In a discussion held in the House of Commons, Farage cited conversations he had with insiders in the Trump administration. He noted his close relationship with Pete Hegseth, the expected incoming Defense Secretary, and raised concerns about Michael Waltz, who is anticipated to become Trump’s national security adviser. In a past communication to Biden’s Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, Waltz had warned that ceding control of the islands would create a security vacuum that China could exploit.
Farage emphasized the critical role of Diego Garcia within American military strategy, recalling that it had been described to him by a senior adviser as “the most important island on the planet.” He cautioned that moving forward with the transfer would put the UK at risk of being defenseless without the United States as an ally.
In response to Farage’s remarks, Doughty dismissed the criticism, pointing out that legal uncertainties related to the Chagos Islands would undermine the operational security of the crucial military base at Diego Garcia. He assured Parliament that the UK government had taken significant steps to ensure that the deal maintains the integrity of the military operations and prevents foreign influence on the outer islands.
The negotiations for this deal began under the previous Conservative government in 2022, though several leading Conservatives have voiced their opposition since the announcement. Notably, Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel, who departed the government shortly before the negotiations gained momentum, stated that this accord compromises a key strategic asset in the Indian Ocean. Other notable critics, such as James Cleverly, who participated in the negotiations as Foreign Secretary, have labeled the Labour-led agreement as insufficiently strong.
In summary, the United Kingdom’s decision to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is generating considerable debate, particularly regarding its implications for UK-US relations and security in the Indo-Pacific region. The opposition from notable figures such as Farage reveals the contentious nature of the agreement amid shifting political dynamics on both sides of the Atlantic.
