Trump Praises New British Prime Minister Burnham but Condemns Chagos Deal

U.S. President Donald Trump called British Prime Minister Andy Burnham a “natural business person” after the pair met in New York on Tuesday, as they discussed trade and Argentina’s claim on the Falkland Islands, among other issues.

Trump said UK–U.S. relations were “more up than they were with your last prime minister,” a reference to Keir Starmer, who resigned in July after two years in the job.

“Based on our relationship with the prime minister, Andy, I think we’re doing very well,” Trump told reporters.

But Trump did renew his criticism of the British government’s plan to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius.

In January, Trump said the deal was an “act of total weakness” and linked it to broader U.S. national security concerns.

Under the terms of the deal, the British–U.S. air base on Diego Garcia would remain under UK control for at least 99 years. The base is regarded by the United States as a critical hub for operations across the Middle East, East Africa, and the Indo-Pacific.

But ratification of the Chagos agreement stalled after the Trump administration withdrew its support.

Chagos Is ‘Terrible Deal’: Trump

On Tuesday, Trump called it “a terrible deal” and described the Chagos Islands as a “very important piece of real estate, militarily and strategically.”

“I think the prime minister is going to be looking at it,” Trump said.

The indigenous population of the Chagos Islands was displaced by Britain in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and Burnham said he would work to find a resolution between the different sides on the future of the islands.

Trump said Britain had tremendous potential.

“This is a country with great patriotism. They love the country,” Trump said.

Controversy over the control of the Falkland Islands has also resurfaced recently. Argentinian President Javier Milei recently restated Buenos Aires’ claim over the islands and has threatened sanctions against companies exploiting oil reserves in the area.

Britain and Argentina fought a brief war in 1982 over the Falkland Islands, when then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent a naval task force thousands of miles to the South Atlantic to eject Argentine troops.

Trump said at the end of August that he was reviewing the United States’ position regarding the Falklands.

Trump previously criticized the UK for failing to support the United States in its war with Iran.

Burnham said that in his early discussions with Trump, he had “established a good connection” with him.

He said to the president: “Obviously, you’re good enough today to let us talk around some issues on trade, the Falklands that we mentioned. And you were going to listen to us on those issues.

“You know that we’re still ready to play our part in the Middle East in terms of helping you stop the conflict, open the strait [of Hormuz].”

‘Iran Must Never Be a Nuclear Power’: Burnham

“Obviously, we’re with you that Iran must never be a nuclear power,” Burnham said.

In September 2025, when Trump made a state visit to the UK, he appeared to get on well with Burnham’s predecessor, Starmer, and they announced a $340 billion partnership in technology, nuclear power, and private equity.

However, the unwillingness of Starmer to offer military support to the United States, following the start of Operation Epic Fury against Iran on Feb. 28, led to a souring of the relationship.

“He has not been helpful. I never thought I‘d see that. I never thought I’d see that from the UK,” Trump told British newspaper The Sun on March 3.

In an interview with The Telegraph on March 2, Trump said he was “very disappointed” with Starmer over reports that the UK had blocked the use of Diego Garcia for U.S. strikes on Iran.

Burnham, who became prime minister in July, is seeking to mend fences with Trump.

“This relationship matters so much to us, and we’ll build on that,” Burnham said.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.