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Keir Starmer: Trump´s Chagos deal U-turn is about pressuring UK over Greenland

PA Media

The Prime Minister vowed he would not `yield´ after the US president branded the agreement an `act of great stupidity´.

Received: 12:30:41 on 21st January 2026

Sir Keir Starmer accused Donald Trump of changing his stance on the UK’s Chagos Islands deal with “the express purpose of putting pressure on me and Britain” over the Government’s position on Greenland.

The Prime Minister vowed he would not “yield” after the US president branded the agreement an “act of great stupidity” in a series of extraordinary social media posts.

Sir Keir told MPs: “President Trump deployed words on Chagos yesterday that were different to his previous words of welcome and support when I met him in the White House.

“He deployed those words yesterday for the express purpose of putting pressure on me and Britain in relation to my values and principles on the future of Greenland”.

The Prime Minister added: “He wants me to yield on my position, and I’m not going to do so.”