Trump and UK's Burnham find common ground, but Chagos deal draws sharp criticism

US President Donald Trump said he believes he can "do business" with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham after their first face-to-face meeting at the UN, but criticized Britain's plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling it a "terrible deal." Trump highlighted the strategic importance of Diego Garcia, home to a US-UK military base, and noted US B-2 bombers had to fly from Missouri to strike Iranian nuclear facilities because the base could not be used for initial strikes. The 40-minute talks covered Iran, Ukraine, trade, the Falkland Islands, and Diego Garcia. The Chagos agreement, reached in 2025, would transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while Britain retains a 99-year lease over Diego Garcia, but implementation has been paused amid US opposition. Burnham, who became prime minister in July, said the two built on a "good connection" from earlier phone conversations.