U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly criticized the United Kingdom’s agreement concerning the Chagos Islands, describing the proposed arrangement with Mauritius as a bad deal and questioning whether it protects important British and American security interests.

Trump made the comments on September 22, 2026, during his first face-to-face meeting with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The disagreement centers on the future of the Chagos Islands, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean that Britain has controlled for more than two centuries. Under the agreement reached by the previous British government, sovereignty over the islands would be transferred to Mauritius while Britain would retain access to the military facilities on Diego Garcia through a long-term lease.

Why Diego Garcia Matters

Diego Garcia is the largest island in the Chagos archipelago and is home to a major joint British-American military facility. The base has significant strategic value because of its location in the Indian Ocean and has been used to support military operations over many years.

Trump emphasized the importance of the location during his meeting with Burnham, arguing that the base’s position makes the future of the islands an important security issue for both countries.

The proposed agreement would allow the UK and United States to continue using the military base while Mauritius would gain sovereignty over the wider Chagos archipelago. Reports have put the financial value of the arrangement at around £3.4 billion, with the military facility itself remaining under a long-term lease arrangement.

Trump Opposes the Agreement

Trump told reporters that he does not support the current arrangement and argued that the islands have considerable strategic importance.

His administration has previously raised concerns about the proposed transfer, and implementation of the agreement has been paused since April while those concerns remain unresolved.

The U.S. president also indicated that he expected Burnham to examine the agreement. Burnham, who was sitting beside Trump during the exchange, indicated that he would look at the issue.

However, this does not mean that the agreement has been formally cancelled.

Burnham Says Britain Wants a Resolution

Before meeting Trump, Burnham had spoken with Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam about the issue. Burnham said the UK remained committed to finding a way forward that would protect the future operation of Diego Garcia while addressing the concerns surrounding the agreement.

After his meeting with Trump, Burnham said Britain would continue working toward a solution. He emphasized that maintaining the military base is important to British national security as well as to the United States and its allies.

The British government therefore faces a complicated situation: it must deal with its agreement with Mauritius while also addressing American concerns about the strategic future of Diego Garcia.

The Background to the Dispute

The previous UK government agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while maintaining access to Diego Garcia. The arrangement followed years of legal and diplomatic disputes over the islands.

In 2019, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion supporting Mauritius’s position that Britain’s administration of the Chagos Islands should come to an end. The UK subsequently pursued negotiations over the territory’s future while seeking to maintain the military facility on Diego Garcia.

The current disagreement is therefore not simply about ownership of the islands. It also involves the future of one of the most strategically significant military facilities in the Indian Ocean.

What Happens Next?

For now, the agreement remains unresolved rather than formally abandoned.

Trump has made clear that he opposes the current arrangement, while Burnham has said Britain will work with Mauritius and the United States to find a resolution that protects the future of Diego Garcia.

The issue is likely to remain an important part of discussions between London and Washington as the UK considers how to balance its relationship with Mauritius with the strategic interests shared by Britain and the United States.

As of September 23, 2026, there has been no confirmed announcement that the Chagos Islands agreement has been cancelled. The British government has instead said it will continue working toward a resolution.