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 U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of support, according to Foreign Secretary Stephen Doughty. The proposed agreement would have allowed Mauritius to assume control of the territory while the UK retained a joint military base on Diego Garcia, with annual payments of £101m ($136m) to lease the site. Trump had earlier endorsed the treaty but shifted his stance, labeling it an “act of total weakness” in January.

Doughty’s statement, delivered during a House of Commons session, followed reports that Sir Keir Starmer had delayed the deal. In response to a Conservative Urgent Question, he emphasized that the treaty’s update—critical for ratifying the agreement—could not be finalized without U.S. backing. “It has become impossible to agree at political level,” he said, despite the deal having been negotiated closely with the U.S. under both current and previous administrations.

“…the position of the United States president appears to have changed. And 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…”

The prime minister’s official spokesperson declined to confirm whether legislation would resume next session, which starts on 13 May. The minister noted that no payments would be made until the treaty is ratified, stressing that the costs are tied to the legal process. Meanwhile, Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel urged Doughty to clarify if the government would advance the deal without Trump’s approval.

Doughty highlighted that the Chagos Bill, which aims to end British control over the islands, has yet to pass both Houses of Parliament. Although five other bills will carry over to the next session, the Chagos legislation is not included. UK officials will now consult with the U.S. and Mauritius to determine the next steps.

Under the 2023 agreement, Britain would hand over the archipelago to Mauritius but lease Diego Garcia for 99 years, with total payments estimated at £3.4 billion. Critics, however, argue the true cost could reach £35 billion when adjusted for inflation, and warn it might enable China to gain influence in the region.

The minister reiterated that the treaty’s ratification remains essential, even as the current parliamentary session concludes. No formal commitment to reintroducing the Bill has been made, leaving the future of the deal uncertain.