Nigel Farage sparks row over Chagos Islands proposal

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has sparked political controversy by suggesting he would offer control of the Chagos Islands to Donald Trump if he were Prime Minister. Speaking on a US-based podcast, Farage proposed a trade where the United States would receive permanent access to Diego Garcia, a highly strategic military base, in exchange for the US government ceasing criticism regarding the Falkland Islands.

Farage characterized the proposal as a business-like transaction, stating that Trump, as a trader, would understand the exchange. A spokesperson for Reform UK clarified that Farage was specifically referring to guaranteeing American use of Diego Garcia in perpetuity rather than surrendering the entire Chagos archipelago.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the remarks, describing them as ‘humiliating’ and ‘careless, loose talk.’ She argued that trading British territory to secure silence on other sovereignty issues lacks national pride and undermines Britain’s national security. Badenoch maintained that both the Chagos Islands and the Falkland Islands are British.