Chagos deal paused over Trump opposition, minister confirms

Chagos Deal Paused Over Trump Opposition, Minister Confirms

The UK’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been indefinitely postponed due to the withdrawal of support from US President Donald Trump, Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty stated. The original agreement would have required the UK to hand over the territory to Mauritius while leasing back the Diego Garcia military base for £101m annually, according to reports.

Doughty’s remarks came in response to a query from Conservative lawmakers, following the BBC’s revelation that Sir Keir Starmer had delayed the process. During a Commons address, the minister accused Trump of shifting his stance, expressing frustration as he noted the treaty’s legislative progress was now stalled for this parliamentary term.

“In recent weeks, the position of the United States president appears to have changed. This means that, in practical terms, it has become impossible to agree at political level an update to the 1966 UK-US agreement concerning the Availability for Defence Purposes of the British Indian Ocean Territory,” Doughty said.

The deal, which had been negotiated with close collaboration between the UK and US under both current and prior administrations, was previously praised by Trump as “very strong and powerful.” However, the minister emphasized that the treaty’s ratification remains essential, even as the current session of Parliament concludes on 13 May.

Doughty confirmed that no payments under the agreement will be made until the treaty is finalized. He told MPs that the £3.4 billion lease arrangement for Diego Garcia depends on the deal being passed through legislation. The government is now considering next steps with the US and Mauritius, though a final draft of the relevant Bill has not yet been agreed upon.

Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel pressed Doughty to clarify whether new legislation would be introduced next session without Trump’s backing. The prime minister’s spokesperson declined to commit, stating that any announcements would follow the usual procedure.

While five other Bills have been carried over to the next session, the Chagos Islands legislation is not included. Critics argue the deal’s true cost could reach £35 billion when adjusted for inflation and warn of potential Chinese influence over the region if it proceeds.