Chagos deal paused over Trump opposition, minister confirms

Chagos Deal Delayed by US Opposition, Minister Confirms

The UK’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been indefinitely delayed due to President Donald Trump withdrawing his backing, foreign minister Stephen Doughty announced. The agreement would have seen the UK relinquish control of the territory to Mauritius while maintaining a joint military base on Diego Garcia, with annual payments of £101 million set to begin.

Earlier in the week, the BBC reported that Sir Keir Starmer had postponed the deal, prompting Doughty to address the issue during a parliamentary session. In response to a question from Conservative lawmakers, he emphasized that Trump’s reversal had made it “impossible to agree at political level” on an updated version of the 1966 UK-US accord. The minister noted the treaty had been negotiated closely with the US under both current and prior administrations, though Trump had recently criticized it as an “act of total weakness.”

“In recent weeks, the position of the United States president appears to have changed. This means it has become impossible to agree at political level on an update to the 1966 UK-US agreement concerning the British Indian Ocean Territory,” Doughty stated.

Despite the deal’s approval last year, no formal payments have been made or will be processed during the current delay. Doughty clarified to Conservative former minister Dame Harriett Baldwin that financial obligations tied to the treaty depend on its passage through legislation. The minister also highlighted that the Chagos Islands Bill, which aims to end British control, is not among the five bills carried over to the next session.

Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel pressed Doughty on whether the government would advance the treaty without Trump’s endorsement. She asked if the minister would prevent new legislation from being introduced in the upcoming parliamentary term. Doughty responded that the Conservatives initiated the process but left the possibility of a fresh bill open.

The original terms of the agreement outlined a 99-year lease for the Diego Garcia base, with total costs estimated at £3.4 billion. However, critics argue the true financial burden could reach £35 billion when adjusted for inflation, and they warn of potential Chinese influence on the territory if the deal proceeds.