Chagos deal paused over Trump opposition, minister confirms

Chagos Deal Halted by Trump’s Opposition, Foreign Minister Confirms

The UK’s agreement regarding the Chagos Islands has been indefinitely delayed due to U.S. President Donald Trump withdrawing his backing, confirmed by Foreign Secretary Stephen Doughty. The original plan involved transferring sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius while maintaining a joint military base on Diego Garcia, with annual lease payments set at £101 million.

Doughty’s statement, delivered in response to a Conservative Urgent Question, came after the BBC reported that Sir Keir Starmer had paused the deal. In the House of Commons, Doughty repeatedly attributed the delay to Trump, expressing frustration as he emphasized that legislative progress would not occur this parliamentary session.

“In recent weeks, the position of the U.S. president appears to have shifted. This means it has become impractical to reach a political agreement on updating the 1966 UK-US arrangement concerning the British Indian Ocean Territory,” Doughty stated.

Despite the treaty having been negotiated in close collaboration with the U.S. under both current and previous administrations, Trump had previously called it “very strong and powerful.” However, his recent comments have disrupted the process. The minister noted that no payments would be made until the treaty is finalized, as the costs are tied to the legislation’s passage.

Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel pressed Doughty to clarify whether the government would pursue new legislation without Trump’s support. She asked, “Will he rule out any new Bill introduced next session, even if it’s not in the King’s Speech, so the surrender treaty can’t become effective?” Doughty responded by stating the Conservatives had initiated the process but left the future of the Bill uncertain.

The prime minister’s spokesperson added that the government would “now discuss next steps with the U.S. and Mauritius.” Under the agreement signed last year, Britain would relinquish control of the islands to Mauritius but retain the Diego Garcia base for 99 years, with a total value of £3.4 billion. Critics argue the true cost could reach £35 billion when adjusted for inflation, raising concerns about China’s potential influence on the territory.