UK Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch Backs Trump, Calls Chagos Islands Deal “Self‑Sabotage”
London, United Kingdom — In a rare moment of transatlantic political alignment, Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has publicly endorsed criticism by U.S. President Donald Trump of the UK government’s controversial Chagos Islands sovereignty deal, describing it as “complete self‑sabotage.” The remarks add fresh intensity to a debate that has stirred diplomatic and domestic opposition to the agreement between the UK and Mauritius over control of the Indian Ocean territory.
The Chagos Islands — a remote archipelago strategically located in the Indian Ocean and home to the critical joint US‑UK military base on Diego Garcia — have become the focal point of a heated political controversy. In May 2025, the UK agreed to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius after decades of legal battle, while maintaining military access through a long‑term lease. The deal has been defended by the British government and supported by several Five Eyes partners as a legal and security necessity.
However, President Trump has sharply reversed earlier U.S. support, denouncing the agreement as an “act of great stupidity” and “total weakness,” warning it could embolden global rivals such as China and Russia and weaken NATO’s position. Trump even linked the dispute to his broader geopolitical ambitions, including renewed interest in Greenland, suggesting that ceding control of territory without strategic gain undermines Western strength.
Against this backdrop, Badenoch offered forceful criticism of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government and its handling of the Chagos deal. Posting on social media and through statements echoed in British media, she said: “Paying to surrender the Chagos Islands is not just an act of stupidity, but of complete self‑sabotage,” adding that Trump’s position on the matter is “unfortunately right.”
Badenoch’s comments align her closely with Trump’s public critique and reflect long‑standing opposition among some UK Conservatives and right‑wing commentators who believe the sovereignty transfer undermines British national security and sovereignty. She urged the Starmer administration to reconsider the deal and asserted that the policy diminishes the UK’s standing with its NATO allies.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also weighed in, claiming that Trump’s stance effectively “vetoed” the islands’ surrender, while critics argue the decision could saddle UK taxpayers with extensive long‑term costs. The UK government has maintained that the treaty was necessary to preserve the future operation of the strategically vital Diego Garcia base, citing legal vulnerabilities that threatened its status without the accord.
The dispute has ignited political tensions within the UK, where the Sovereignty deal — opposed by some as both costly and strategically unwise — has been debated extensively in Parliament and among public audiences. Coverage in British media underscores divisions between those viewing the transfer as a step toward resolving colonial‑era issues and those, like Badenoch and Trump, characterising it as weakening the UK’s global defence posture.
Badenoch’s public backing of Trump’s critique is notable because it crosses traditional party lines on foreign policy — involving a British opposition leader openly agreeing with a U.S. president’s assessment of UK strategy. Observers say her stance signals broader Conservative frustration with Starmer’s foreign policy direction, even as London insists the deal preserves critical military and geopolitical interests.
The Chagos deal remains legally and politically contentious, with supporters insisting it secures long‑term access to Diego Garcia while resolving protracted legal challenges, and opponents arguing it sacrifices too much for too little strategic benefit. With the deal still moving through parliamentary processes and facing domestic and international scrutiny, Badenoch’s remarks are likely to fuel ongoing debate both within the UK and among its global partners.
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