Andy Burnham will review the United Kingdom’s agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after United States President Donald Trump described the arrangement as “terrible” during their first face‑to‑face meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Meeting at the UN
The encounter took place on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, while both leaders were attending the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. In a joint press conference that was largely cordial, Trump praised Burnham as a “natural business person” and noted that UK‑US relations were “more up now than they were with your last prime minister”. Burnham responded that he had “established a good connection” with the US president and said the pair had “taken that further today” while discussing trade, energy and immigration.
Trump’s Praise and Criticism
Despite the warm exchanges, Trump turned critical when asked about the Chagos Islands deal. He described the Indian Ocean archipelago as a “very important piece of real estate, militarily and strategically” for both nations and labelled the agreement to hand sovereignty to Mauritius a “terrible deal”. He added that the prime minister would be “looking at it”. Burnham paused before replying with a simple “yep” and later did not deny that the deal could be dead, telling the BBC that the agreement was one he had inherited and that “we need a resolution”.
Burnham’s Response and Broader Diplomatic Moves
Burnham stressed the importance of preserving the joint US‑UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain, saying it was critical for security and that he would work to find a resolution acceptable to all sides. He also revealed that he had raised the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands with Trump, weeks after the US president suggested America might not come to the UK’s aid if Argentina invaded again. On economic matters, Burnham said he had highlighted a specific concern about how Trump’s tariffs were negatively affecting a factory in the north‑east of England, which he declined to name, and denied that he had been labelled a “natural business person” over prospects for more North Sea drilling. The discussion also touched on artificial intelligence, with Burnham advocating for internationally agreed regulation while Trump dismissed such ideas as a “globalist scheme”.
Implications for Diego Garcia Base
The Chagos Islands arrangement, valued at £3.4 billion, involves the UK leasing Diego Garcia from Mauritius to sustain the strategic military installation used by both British and American forces. Any alteration to the deal could affect the base’s operational status and, by extension, broader defence cooperation between the two allies. Burnham’s pledge to seek a resolution signals that the UK government is prepared to renegotiate terms, a move that will be watched closely by policymakers in Washington and Mauritius alike.
Why it Matters
The reassessment of the Chagos Islands agreement underscores how personal diplomacy can quickly shift strategic priorities, even amid otherwise positive bilateral talks. Should the UK alter or abandon the lease, the future of the Diego Garcia base — a linchpin of Western military presence in the Indian Ocean — could be thrown into uncertainty, affecting not only UK‑US defence coordination but also wider geopolitical stability in a region where China’s influence is growing. Burnham’s effort to frame Britain as an “honest broker” and to present a hopeful, decade‑long vision for the country adds a layer of diplomatic signalling that may help soften the fallout, but the outcome will hinge on whether a mutually acceptable resolution can be reached before any concrete changes are made.
