UK Prime Minister Starmer says Trump's Chagos criticism linked to his Greenland plan

Starmer accuses Trump of using criticism over the Chagos deal to pressure the UK on Greenland, escalating tensions between London and Washington.

Reuters

January 21, 2026

UK Prime Minister Starmer says Trump's Chagos criticism linked to his Greenland plan

People walk past a sign placed on a street in Nuuk, Greenland, Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Mads Claus Rasmussen/Reuters

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in parliament on Wednesday (January 21) that U.S. President Donald Trump's critical words on London's Chagos Islands deal with Mauritius, which represented a U-turn from Trump's position last year, were designed to put pressure on the UK over Greenland.

"He deployed those words yesterday for the express purpose of putting pressure on me and Britain in relation to my values and principles on the future of Greenland," Starmer said.

Trump lambasted Britain's deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago - including an island with an important U.S.-UK air base - as an act of "total weakness" and "great stupidity" that underlines why he wants to acquire Greenland.

Trump's attack heaps new strain on relations with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who this week spoke out against his ambition to take over Greenland by any means to counter the encroaching presence of rivals China and Russia.

Production: Leila Dougan/Reuters