Donald Trump and Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)
Kemi Badenoch has slammed Keir Starmer for being “out of his depth” on the world stage after the Prime Minister was humiliated by Donald Trump. She said the US President was “dead right” to accuse the Labor leader of “great stupidity” and “weakness” for surrendering the Chagos Islands.
And Mrs. Badenoch warned that the Prime Minister has put British security in jeopardy by giving the green light for a new Chinese mega-embassy. Writing exclusively in the Daily Express, she said: “The fact is that Keir Starmer and his Labor Government are completely out of their depth in the new international order. “They are weak in a world that increasingly cares only about strength.”
Donald Trump's social media post (Image: DX)
Read more: 'Donald Trump is dead right about Keir Starmer's total weakness'
It came as Mr Trump lost patience with Sir Keir over his resistance to the president's attempt to grab Greenland, unleashing a ferocious social media attack which left the UK-US “special relationship” dangling by a thread.
As a dramatic day continued at breakneck speed, the Prime Minister risked provoking Mr. Trump further by allowing China's new embassy to be built in London despite security fears.
The Government signed off the plans for the site in the face of furious opposition from many MPs and warnings it will be used as a “spy hub”.
Critics accused the Prime Minister – who is expected to visit China this month – of lacking the “backbone” to stand up to Beijing and of “kowtowing” to the communist superpower.
Documents released alongside the decision showed MI5 warned that it is “not realistic to expect to be able wholly to eliminate each and every potential risk”.
The decision was announced shortly after Mr. Trump had condemned Sir Keir for “giving away” the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a country that is viewed as an ally of China.
The US President said handing over the British Indian Ocean Territory, which includes the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, was a sign of “total weakness”.
Ministers have insisted the deal is necessary because international court rulings in favor of Mauritian claims to the islands had threatened the future of the base.
The government has agreed to hand over the islands but will pay billions of pounds to lease back the strategically-important Diego Garcia.
Kemi Badenoch (Image: Getty)
In an extraordinary attack on his Truth Social site, Mr Trump said: “Shockingly, our “brilliant” NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital US Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.
“There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness.”
Mrs Badenoch added that the Prime Minister's Chagos deal will cost UK taxpayers £35billion in reparations.
“It is not in the national interest. It is a good deal for China and Russia,” she said.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Mr Trump had “vetoed the surrender” of the Chagos islands”.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp blamed Sir Keir for “selling out our national security” in his eagerness to “kowtow” to China.
“Keir Starmer has become Peking's poodle,” he added.
The Government signed a treaty last May to return sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius, following long-running negotiations started under the previous Tory administration after a 2019 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice said the UK should cede control.
As well as establishing a £40 million fund for Chagossians expelled from the islands, the UK has agreed to pay Mauritius at least £120 million annually during the 99-year agreement, with the total cost in nominal terms set to reach around £35 billion.
Mr Trump highlighted the Chagos decision as a reason for his continued pursuit of Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
“The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of national security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired,” he added.
Proposed Chinese Embassy in London (Image: DX)
Mr Trump also shared a mock-up image of himself planting the US flag on Greenland in his latest threat to seize the coveted Danish island.
The US president vowed there is “no going back” on his takeover plans – with scrambling European leaders now set to face him for crunch talks in the Swiss town of Davos on Wednesday.
The divide between America and Europe has rattled financial markets in response to Mr Trump's tariff threats.
Sir Keir led a Cabinet discussion about the crisis while Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey warned the tensions would have consequences for global financial stability.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen warned the EU could hit back at the US in an “unflinching” way if Mr. Trump carried out his tariff threat, risking a transatlantic trade war.
Mr Trump has threatened to hit the UK and other European allies with 10% tariffs from February 1 unless they agree to his purchase of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, and he has refused to rule out using military force to seize the island.
The US president has warned that Russia and China pose a national security risk from the Arctic and has claimed Denmark is incapable of protecting Greenland.
The FTSE 100 index in London fell, with similar declines in other European exchanges and the US.
The Bank of England governor told MPs: “The level of geopolitical uncertainty and geopolitical issues is a big consideration because they can have financial stability consequences.”
At the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Chancellor Rachel Reeves called for cool heads as Europe and the US teetered on the edge of a trade war.