The United Kingdom has reopened talks with the United States over the future of the Chagos Islands following sharp criticism from President Donald Trump, who condemned a proposed agreement that would transfer sovereignty of the strategically critical territory to Mauritius.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed Wednesday that discussions with Washington had resumed after Trump publicly attacked the deal, calling it an “act of great stupidity,” according to GB News. Trump warned that handing over Diego Garcia, home to a vital U.S. military base, would signal weakness and be noticed by adversaries including China and Russia.

“Shockingly, our ‘brilliant’ NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added that the move represented “total weakness” and posed serious national security risks.

Diego Garcia, leased by the United States from the U.K. since 1966, serves as a major hub for long-range bombers, logistics, intelligence gathering, and military communications across the Middle East, Africa, and the Indo-Pacific. Around 2,500 military and civilian personnel, mostly American, are stationed on the island.

Under the proposed agreement, the U.K. would transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing Diego Garcia back for at least 99 years at an annual cost exceeding $160 million. The plan followed a 2019 ruling by the International Court of Justice that Britain’s separation of the islands from Mauritius during decolonization was unlawful.

Starmer said he has discussed the issue with Trump multiple times and acknowledged that the U.K. paused the agreement for three months after the Trump administration took office to allow U.S. agencies to assess its implications. He said Washington had previously signaled support, though the president’s recent comments have reopened concerns.

A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed London is working to “allay any concerns” in Washington and emphasized ongoing engagement with the U.S. to protect shared defense interests.

Trump’s intervention was welcomed by critics of the deal in Britain, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who praised the president for opposing what he described as the surrender of strategically vital territory.