UK to review Chagos Islands deal after Trump calls it 'ridiculous'

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed Tuesday he will review the Chagos Islands deal after US President Donald Trump called it "ridiculous" and "terrible" during a UN General Assembly meeting. The 2024 agreement would transfer sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while securing a 99-year lease for the US-UK military base on Diego Garcia. Trump had previously approved the deal but reversed his position in January, calling it "great stupidity" and citing national security concerns. Burnham said he inherited the situation and is working to find a resolution, stressing the base's importance for security. Critics argue the transfer could compromise Western interests in the Indo-Pacific, while former PM Sir Keir Starmer maintained the deal was the only way to retain the base.