"Marrow stupid": Senator John Kennedy Blasts UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Over Chagos Islands Transfer
Kennedy warns that Starmer’s decision to hand the islands to Mauritius could open the door to Chinese strategic influence near the U.S.-UK Diego Garcia base.
U.S. Senator John Kennedy, R-La., launched a scathing attack on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a Senate floor session, condemning the UK’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Kennedy described the move as a major geopolitical blunder, raising alarms over potential Chinese strategic access near the critical U.S.-UK naval base at Diego Garcia.
The Chagos Islands, located in the Indian Ocean, have been under British control since the 1960s and host the joint U.S.-UK military base, considered vital for regional and global security.
The issue gained momentum after a 2019 advisory ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), supported by the United Nations, which declared that the UK’s retention of the islands was illegal.
In response, the UK government announced in October 2024 its intention to hand over sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius.
While the agreement allows the Diego Garcia base to remain under U.S. and British control for the next 99 years, critics argue that the long-term geopolitical consequences are too dangerous to ignore.
Kennedy emphasized these concerns by calling the transfer 'bone-deep down to the marrow stupid,' accusing Starmer of putting strategic interests at risk and setting himself up for a legacy of failure.
Kennedy, known for his direct and honest rhetoric, stated: 'This decision defies common sense. It hands over key strategic control, potentially to China, in an area that is critical to U.S. and UK security. Starmer needs to stop bowing to international pressure and recognize what’s at stake.'
Top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have also expressed opposition to the transfer, reinforcing bipartisan concerns within the U.S. government.
Kennedy speculated that former President Donald Trump would likely be against the plan as well, although he did not confirm direct discussions with him.
Protests against the transfer have also erupted in the UK. Members of the Chagossian community, who were displaced from the islands during the establishment of the military base in the 1960s and 1970s, gathered outside the UK Parliament in October 2024 to oppose the agreement.
The protesters argue that the transfer does not adequately address their displacement or long-standing grievances.
Despite the backlash, Prime Minister Starmer’s office has remained silent, refusing to comment on Kennedy’s remarks or address growing domestic and international criticism.
Kennedy hinted at this silence, stating: 'It’s what guilty suspects typically do when confronted—they stay quiet.'
Kennedy, in his remarks, urged Starmer to reverse the decision and reject what he described as unnecessary appeasement of international bodies like the United Nations.
'We’ll stand with you in telling the United Nations that we’re not doing this,' Kennedy said.
'But the UK has to show leadership.'
As the situation unfolds, the agreement’s future remains contentious.
Critics warn that once sovereignty is fully transferred, it could provide opportunities for Chinese strategic advances in the region, a possibility that both U.S. and UK officials find concerning.
It remains unclear if, and how much, Keir Starmer may have received under the table for his controversial decision to support China against U.S. interests. What is certain is that with Starmer, there is nothing for nothing: once Starmer, always Starmer.
Kennedy described the move as a major geopolitical blunder, raising alarms over potential Chinese strategic access near the critical U.S.-UK naval base at Diego Garcia.
The Chagos Islands, located in the Indian Ocean, have been under British control since the 1960s and host the joint U.S.-UK military base, considered vital for regional and global security.
The issue gained momentum after a 2019 advisory ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), supported by the United Nations, which declared that the UK’s retention of the islands was illegal.
In response, the UK government announced in October 2024 its intention to hand over sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius.
While the agreement allows the Diego Garcia base to remain under U.S. and British control for the next 99 years, critics argue that the long-term geopolitical consequences are too dangerous to ignore.
Kennedy emphasized these concerns by calling the transfer 'bone-deep down to the marrow stupid,' accusing Starmer of putting strategic interests at risk and setting himself up for a legacy of failure.
Kennedy, known for his direct and honest rhetoric, stated: 'This decision defies common sense. It hands over key strategic control, potentially to China, in an area that is critical to U.S. and UK security. Starmer needs to stop bowing to international pressure and recognize what’s at stake.'
Top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have also expressed opposition to the transfer, reinforcing bipartisan concerns within the U.S. government.
Kennedy speculated that former President Donald Trump would likely be against the plan as well, although he did not confirm direct discussions with him.
Protests against the transfer have also erupted in the UK. Members of the Chagossian community, who were displaced from the islands during the establishment of the military base in the 1960s and 1970s, gathered outside the UK Parliament in October 2024 to oppose the agreement.
The protesters argue that the transfer does not adequately address their displacement or long-standing grievances.
Despite the backlash, Prime Minister Starmer’s office has remained silent, refusing to comment on Kennedy’s remarks or address growing domestic and international criticism.
Kennedy hinted at this silence, stating: 'It’s what guilty suspects typically do when confronted—they stay quiet.'
Kennedy, in his remarks, urged Starmer to reverse the decision and reject what he described as unnecessary appeasement of international bodies like the United Nations.
'We’ll stand with you in telling the United Nations that we’re not doing this,' Kennedy said.
'But the UK has to show leadership.'
As the situation unfolds, the agreement’s future remains contentious.
Critics warn that once sovereignty is fully transferred, it could provide opportunities for Chinese strategic advances in the region, a possibility that both U.S. and UK officials find concerning.
It remains unclear if, and how much, Keir Starmer may have received under the table for his controversial decision to support China against U.S. interests. What is certain is that with Starmer, there is nothing for nothing: once Starmer, always Starmer.
