Trump Says He Can Do Business With Andy Burnham, Criticizes Chagos Deal
The US President met with the UK leader for the first time, discussing trade and immigration while reiterating opposition to the Chagos Islands agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he can conduct business with Andy Burnham, following their first in-person meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Trump expressed optimism about UK-U.S. relations under Burnham's leadership, noting that their discussions had progressed since prior phone conversations.
Burnham described the meeting as establishing a "good connection" and indicated that they had further developed this rapport through discussions on trade and immigration. Trump, in turn, called Burnham a "natural businessperson" who "gets it, he understands what he has to do."
The U.S. president also reiterated his strong opposition to the United Kingdom's deal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and pay to lease back a crucial joint military base. Trump characterized the agreement as "terrible" and emphasized the strategic importance of the military base on Diego Garcia, particularly concerning U.S. operations in Iran.
Trump's opposition led to the indefinite pausing of the deal in April, which would have seen the U.K. cede territory to Mauritius and pay an estimated £101 million ($136 million) annually to lease the base. Speaking on Tuesday, Trump indicated that the Prime Minister would be reviewing the deal, to which Burnham responded affirmatively.
Ahead of his trip to New York, the Prime Minister had spoken with his Mauritian counterpart, Navin Ramgoolam. On Monday, the Prime Minister stated the U.K.'s determination to ensure the "long-term operation of the base" and to work towards a resolution. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a vocal critic of the deal, posted on X that "The Chagos deal is dead. Thank God."