In a first face-to-face meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, US President Donald Trump sharply criticized the United Kingdom’s plans to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Trump described the agreement as a “terrible deal,” expressing strong opposition to the UK government's move, which was agreed upon under the previous British administration. The deal involves ceding sovereignty of the Indian Ocean territory while maintaining the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, with the UK agreeing to compensate Mauritius by paying tens of billions of pounds to lease back the base.
During the September 2023 meeting, Trump emphasized the strategic importance of the islands, asserting that Mauritius’s claim to ownership was sudden and unfounded after centuries of British administration. “Somebody has ownership that never showed up before after decades and centuries,” Trump told reporters, calling the arrangement “ridiculous.” He indicated that the handover is currently on hold following his withdrawal of American support, despite its prior approval by President Joe Biden.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, attending the UN session and meeting with Trump for the first time, appeared to accept the criticism without confrontation. Burnham described Trump's business acumen positively, saying, “He’s a natural businessperson,” and noted that the two had previously communicated by phone. Following the meeting, Burnham suggested that the deal might be reconsidered, stressing the need to safeguard the future of the military base for both British and US security interests and committing to work towards a resolution.
The issue has elicited mixed reactions within the UK. Reform’s Robert Jenrick welcomed the apparent suspension of the deal, calling it “dead in the water” and suggesting that American intervention prevented further damage to the British government’s position.
Aside from the Chagos Islands dispute, the meeting covered various strained aspects of US-UK relations. Burnham raised concerns about Trump’s earlier remarks regarding a possible US shift on defending the Falkland Islands in the event of conflict with Argentina. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to the Islanders’ right to self-determination. He also defended the UK’s sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank and avoided a direct clash over immigration policy, an issue that had previously caused tensions between the White House and UK officials.
The encounter marked a thaw in relations between the two leaders, despite their earlier political disagreements. Burnham acknowledged that the personal rapport established during their discussions helped ease prior tensions; he even joked about Trump’s past comments referring to Manchester as a “small town.” The meeting underscored both the complexity of the diplomatic relationship and the continued significance of the Chagos Islands within broader geopolitical and security considerations.
Meanwhile, Trump used his UN speech to criticize the organization itself for promoting mass migration, which he claimed threatened cultural heritage, continuing his pattern of outspoken critiques of multilateral institutions. The diplomatic exchanges at the UN illustrate ongoing challenges and recalibrations in transatlantic relations amid shifting geopolitical priorities.