Chagos Islands Deal Halted Indefinitely Amid US Opposition
The proposed deal for the UK to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while retaining a joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, has been put on hold indefinitely. Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty confirmed the pause, directly attributing the decision to US President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of support.
Trump’s Reversal
Despite previously expressing support for the treaty, President Trump reportedly urged the Prime Minister to scrap the agreement, labelling it an "act of total weakness" in January. Mr Doughty, speaking in the House of Commons, expressed frustration as he confirmed that legislation necessary for the deal’s progression will not advance during this parliamentary session.
The agreement, which involved the UK leasing back the military base for an average of £101 million per year, had been negotiated in close co-ordination with the United States under both the current and previous US administrations. However, Mr Doughty stated that updating the 1966 UK-US agreement concerning the availability of the British Indian Ocean Territory for defence purposes has become "impossible to agree at political level" due to the US President's changed stance.
Implications and Future
With the deal currently unratified, no payments have been made, nor will they be made during this period of delay. Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel pressed Mr Doughty on whether the government would rule out future legislation without US backing, to which he did not provide a direct commitment, noting that the Conservatives had "started this process".
The government's spokesman indicated that UK officials would "now discuss next steps with the US and the Mauritians." Opponents of the deal have raised concerns about its potential long-term costs, which could reach an estimated £35 billion when adjusted for inflation, and the risk of China establishing a presence in the archipelago.
