donald trump Britain accused of “act of complete weakness” Chagos Islands As soon as he created an uproar in the dispute over the attempt to capture Greenland.
In an early morning post, the US President alleged, “Giving away vital land is an act of great folly.”
He tried to argue that the British decision, which the US administration supported, was another reason America had to occupy Greenland.
Trump has threatened tariffs against eight European countries, including Britain, unless they agree to allow the US to buy Greenland.
But Cabinet minister Darren Jones, chief secretary to the prime minister, suggested the US president could push back on the tariffs.
He said British businesses should not yet prepare for the 10% tariffs coming into effect on February 1, as it was still “hypothetical”; the levy would rise to 25% in June.
Sir keir starmer Mr Jones said on ITV’s Good Morning Britain that he had told the US president that a trade war was in nobody’s interests.
Donald Trump (Trump) on Chagos Island.
Just minutes later, news of an extraordinary message from Trump emerged on Truth Social.
He said, “What is shocking is that our “brilliant” NATO ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to cede Diego Garcia Island, a key US military base, to Mauritius, and without any reason.”
“There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of complete weakness. These are international powers that only recognize strength, which is why the United States America Under my leadership, now, after only one year, I am respected like never before.
“Britain giving up vitally important land is an act of great folly and is yet another in a very long series of national security reasons for acquiring Greenland. Denmark and its European partners must do the right thing.
“Thank you for your attention to this matter. President Donald J. Trump”
Trump raised the temperature even further in Greenland by posting a photo on Truth Social that showed him carrying a US flag over the Danish territory.
The US President, who is travelling to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, made these claims while intensifying his rhetoric on the acquisition of the Arctic region.
Diego Garcia, the largest island of the Chagos Islands – a small archipelago in the Indian Ocean – is home to a strategically important military base that is jointly used by the US and Britain.
Britain has paid Mauritius to lease Diego Garcia and the base for at least 99 years under the terms of the deal.
Responding to Trump’s message, Mr. Jones insisted that legislation for the Chagos Islands agreement was being passed in Parliament, and he doubted whether Britain would change its stance.
“What we’ve done is essentially secure that base by leasing it for 100 years and that protects our military capabilities, both for us and the Americans, in that important part of the world,” he told Times Radio.
“When we announced that we were able to secure this deal with the Government of Mauritius, it was welcomed by the US Administration and our other NATO allies.”
Trump’s sudden public stance towards Sir Keir contrasts with the Prime Minister’s calm approach. Other European leaders have turned to the US president in recent weeks over ambitions to own Greenland.
It also questioned the benefits of Sir Keir’s approach of dealing with an unpredictable president, being reluctant to criticise him and flattering him.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron told Trump he could hold the G7 meeting in Paris on Thursday afternoon and that he did not understand what Trump was “doing to Greenland.”
According to screenshot messages posted by Trump on Truth Social, Macron told the US president he could invite Ukrainians, Danes, Syrians and Russians to participate during the meeting and also invited Trump to dinner with him in Paris on Thursday.
Trump’s replies, if any, were not part of the screenshots he posted.
France is exerting pressure on Europe to prepare a robust response if Trump imposes his threatened tariffs.
The White House and Macron’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the messages.
A source close to Macron said the text message shared by Trump was authentic.
EU leaders are due to convene in Brussels for an emergency summit on Thursday evening after Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on several EU countries over demands to annex Greenland.
