Donald Trump brands Chagos deal 'act of GREAT STUPIDITY and total weakness' in extraordinary attack on Britain

He wrote on Truth Social: "Shockingly, our 'brilliant' Nato ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital US Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.

"There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness," he added.

Fears have long been raised that the base could be under threat of Chinese espionage due to close economic ties between Beijing and Mauritius.

Mr Trump continued: "These are international powers who only recognize STRENGTH, which is why the United States of America, under my leadership, is now, after only one year, respected like never before.

"The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of national security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired.

"Denmark and its European Allies have to DO THE RIGHT THING. Thank you for your attention to this matter."

The extraordinary intervention flies directly in the face of the State Department's official position on the territory.

Last May, when Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the deal had been done, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement: "We commend both the United Kingdom and Mauritius for their leadership, vision, and commitment to ensure that Diego Garcia remains fully operational."

Mr Rubio at the time added that President Trump "expressed his support for this monumental achievement during his meeting with Prime Minister Starmer at the White House".

Last February, speaking next to the PM in the Oval Office, Mr Trump told reporters the deal will "work out very well", adding: "We'll be inclined to go along with your country. It doesn't sound bad!"

Mere days ago, the native Chagossians launched a last-ditch appeal to the President to intervene.

Their First Minister Misley Mandarin wrote directly to the President, describing the arrangement as a "very bad deal" that threatened the base on Diego Garcia.

Another vocal critic of the handover has been Nigel Farage, who on Tuesday issued a 10-word response to the President's remarks.

"Thank goodness Trump has vetoed the surrender of the Chagos Islands," the Reform UK chief told GB News.

Tory Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said Britain "shouldn't need Trump's intervention to think again".

His colleague Priti Patel - another fierce "surrender" critic - added: "President Trump has said what we've said all along - Labour's £35billion Chagos surrender is a bad deal for Britain and bad for our national security.

"We've opposed it from day one and it's time Starmer put the security of our country first and scrap his rotten deal."

It remains to be seen how the Prime Minister will react to this latest attack, not least given his repeated commitment to giving away the islands under international law.

But just yesterday, he attempted to cool transatlantic tensions amid a growing row over the future of Greenland.

"We will work with our allies in Europe, across Nato and with the United States. We will keep dialogue open," he said in an address to the nation.

"We will defend international law, and we will use the full strength of Government at home and abroad to protect the security, living standards and future of the British people."

MPs will descend on the Commons today in a bid to reverse four Lords amendments to the Chagos Bill and finally get it signed off.

But in light of Mr Trump's remarks, peers may choose to use "double insistence" - passing the same amendments again when they come back to the Lords - to force the Government to delay the Bill's passage by a year under the Parliament Act.