Chagos deal paused over Trump opposition, minister confirms
Chagos Deal Stalled Due to Trump’s Shift, Foreign Minister Confirms
UK Foreign Secretary Stephen Doughty announced that the Chagos Islands agreement has been indefinitely delayed, citing U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of support. The treaty, which would have transferred sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius while maintaining a joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, now faces uncertainty. Doughty’s statement, delivered in response to a question from Conservative MPs, followed reports that Sir Keir Starmer had postponed the deal’s finalization.
The minister emphasized that the lack of political consensus with the U.S. has rendered any updates to the 1966 UK-US agreement—specifically the Exchange of Notes—unachievable. Despite prior collaboration between the UK and U.S. administrations, Trump’s recent stance has complicated progress. The prime minister’s spokesperson, when questioned about resuming legislation in the next session, declined to commit, stating that details would be revealed through official channels.
Key Details of the Agreement
Under the original terms, Britain would transfer control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius but lease the Diego Garcia base for 99 years, with an annual cost of £101m. The total value of the lease is estimated at £3.4 billion. However, critics argue the actual cost could rise to £35 billion when adjusted for inflation, raising concerns about long-term financial implications.
“Recent weeks have seen the U.S. president’s position shift, making it impossible to finalize an update to the 1966 agreement at the political level,” Doughty stated. He noted that the treaty remains essential, even as the current session’s legislative progress stalls.
Doughty also addressed concerns about the deal’s ratification, confirming that payments tied to the agreement cannot proceed without the treaty being enacted. Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel pressed for clarity, asking if the government would bypass Trump’s support to advance legislation. Doughty replied that the Conservatives initiated the process but left open the possibility of a new Bill emerging.
Meanwhile, Parliament has agreed to extend five other bills beyond the current session, but the Chagos Islands legislation is excluded. UK officials now plan to coordinate with U.S. and Mauritian representatives to determine future steps. The deal’s opponents warn that its ratification could enable China to gain strategic foothold in the region, adding to the debate over its impact on global geopolitics.
