Chagos islands deal: ‘Will proceed only with US support’: Britain pulls out of Chagos deal after Donald Trump’s criticism
The deal, which was intended to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back the strategic Diego Garcia military base, has effectively stalled because Britain has not had time to pass the necessary legislation before Parliament is dissolved.According to the BBC, officials made clear that the agreement was not being abandoned entirely, but they acknowledged that a key legal requirement, a formal exchange of letters from the US, had not yet been met.
America supporting uncertainty blocks legislation
The agreement, signed in May 2025, initially received US support. However, tensions escalated when Trump publicly criticized the plan, calling it an “absolutely debilitating act” and urging Britain “not to give up Diego Garcia”.Despite earlier support from the US State Department, the lack of formal confirmation has prevented the UK from moving forward. A government spokesperson stressed that the deal would only proceed with US approval, and said that ensuring the long-term security of Diego Garcia remained “the whole reason for the deal”.Quoted by the BBC, a government spokesperson said: “Diego Garcia is a key strategic military asset for both the UK and the US. Ensuring its long-term operational security is and will remain our priority – that’s the whole reason for the deal”.“We believe the agreement is the best way to protect the long-term future of the base, but we have always said we will move forward on the agreement only if it has U.S. support. We are continuing dialogue with the US and Mauritius”, the spokesperson said. The proposed arrangement involved the UK paying approximately £101 million annually to lease the base, a major UK-US military asset in the Indian Ocean.
Strategic and political concerns dominate the debate
The Chagos Islands, controlled by Britain since the early 19th century, hold significant geopolitical importance due to the Diego Garcia Base, which has supported major military operations, including in Afghanistan and the Middle East.The agreement also aimed to resolve long-standing disputes over sovereignty, which Mauritius has claimed over the islands since independence. However, critics argue that the move could weaken the region’s strategic position, especially amid increasing global competition.
Political reaction and criticism has intensified
The shelving of the deal has triggered sharp political reactions. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed the move, saying the agreement deserved “the ash heap of history” and accused Starmer of attempting to “cede British sovereign territory”.Similarly, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the moratorium as “long overdue” and urged the government to prioritize the resettlement rights of displaced Chagossians.However, critics in other quarters argued that the handling of the deal has been inconsistent. Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Callum Miller described the process as “absolutely shoddy” and warned that Trump’s changing stance had exposed weaknesses in the UK-US partnership.Meanwhile, many Chagossians have opposed the deal, seeing it as a betrayal that fails to guarantee their right to return to the islands after being displaced decades ago.With no Chagos-related legislation expected in the upcoming King’s Speech, the future of the agreement remains uncertain, as the UK continues negotiations with both the US and Mauritius.