Donald Trump Calls UK's Chagos Islands Deal 'Terrible' During First Meeting With Andy Burnham

Donald Trump has delivered a blunt warning over Britain's Chagos Islands agreement during his first face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham, calling the deal 'terrible' despite offering an otherwise warm assessment of the new UK leader.

The US president met Burnham on Tuesday, 22 September, during the UN General Assembly in New York, where the pair discussed trade, energy, immigration and international security.

However, Trump made clear that transferring sovereignty of the strategically important islands to Mauritius remains a major point of disagreement.

Trump Praises Andy Burnham During First Meeting

Trump's criticism of the Chagos agreement contrasted sharply with his comments about Burnham himself.

The president described the prime minister as a 'natural business person' and said the pair could work together. He also suggested relations with Britain had improved since Burnham replaced Keir Starmer.

'I think right now, based on my relationship with your prime minister, Andy, I think we're doing very well,' Trump said.

Burnham described the talks as constructive, saying the two leaders had established a 'good connection' during earlier discussions and had further developed it in New York.

The reception was significant, given that Trump had previously described Burnham as 'extremely liberal'. Their meeting covered subjects including Rolls-Royce, energy and immigration, while Iran, Ukraine and artificial intelligence also featured in discussions surrounding the UN gathering.

Trump Calls Chagos Islands Deal 'Terrible'

The friendlier tone disappeared when Trump was asked about the Chagos Islands.

'I don't support it. I think it's terrible. It was a terrible deal,' he said, before stressing the military and strategic importance of the archipelago.

At the centre of the dispute is Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago and home to a major joint UK-US military base.

Under the UK-Mauritius treaty signed in May 2025, Mauritius would exercise sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, while Britain would retain control over Diego Garcia for an initial 99 years. The agreement also allows for an extension.

The UK government said when announcing the treaty that the arrangement would cost an average of £101 million annually (approximately $134 million) and secure the base's long-term operation. British officials have described Diego Garcia as vital to military activity across the Middle East, Indo-Pacific and Africa.

Trump, however, questioned why Britain should surrender sovereignty and suggested Burnham could reconsider the arrangement.

'I think the prime minister is going to be looking at it,' Trump said. Burnham responded affirmatively during the exchange.

Why Diego Garcia Matters to the UK and US

Diego Garcia has hosted the joint UK-US military facility for more than 50 years. According to Britain's Ministry of Defence, it has supported counter-terrorism operations and wider UK and US security missions.

The sovereignty question also has a lengthy legal and diplomatic history. Britain separated the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965, before Mauritian independence, and Chagossians were subsequently displaced as the military facility was developed.

The UK and Mauritius announced a political agreement in October 2024 after two years of negotiations, saying the settlement was intended to resolve their sovereignty dispute while protecting the operation of Diego Garcia.

Burnham has inherited that agreement rather than negotiated its original terms. His government must now determine how to proceed while maintaining the military base and managing Washington's renewed opposition.

Trump's remarks therefore leave the first Burnham-Trump meeting with a clear split: the two leaders publicly presented a warmer personal relationship, but the US president has made clear that he does not support the existing Chagos arrangement.