Chagos deal paused over Trump opposition, minister confirms

Chagos Agreement Suspended Amid Trump’s Withdrawal, Foreign Minister Affirms

The UK’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been indefinitely halted following US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw his backing, according to Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty. The proposed treaty would have required the UK to relinquish control of the territory and annually compensate Mauritius for the continued use of the Diego Garcia military base, valued at £101 million ($136 million) per year.

Trump had earlier endorsed the agreement but shifted his stance in January, calling it an “act of total weakness.” Doughty’s statement, responding to a Conservative Urgent Question, came after the BBC reported that Sir Keir Starmer had delayed the deal. During a Commons address, Doughty emphasized Trump’s opposition, expressing frustration as he stated legislative progress for the treaty would not occur in this session.

Despite the agreement being negotiated in close collaboration with the US under both current and prior administrations, Trump labeled it “very strong and powerful,” yet his recent stance has made updating the 1966 UK-US pact “impossible to agree at political level.” Doughty noted:

“In recent weeks, 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, known as the Exchange of Notes.”

The treaty, signed in May 2023, outlines the UK’s transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia. However, no payments have been finalized due to the delay, as confirmed by Doughty to former Conservative minister Dame Harriett Baldwin. He stated:

“I can confirm that in relation to the costs associated with this treaty, they cannot be paid without the treaty being passed, without the relevant legislation being passed.”

Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel pressed Doughty to clarify whether new legislation would proceed without Trump’s approval. She asked:

“Will he rule out any new legislation coming forward next session, even if it isn’t in the King’s Speech, so that the surrender treaty cannot become operable?”

Doughty replied that the Conservatives initiated the process but did not explicitly confirm a fresh bill.

The prime minister’s spokesperson noted that UK officials would now consult with the US and Mauritius on future steps. While five other bills have been carried over to the next session starting May 13, the Chagos Islands Bill remains pending. Opponents argue the deal’s true cost could reach £35 billion when adjusted for inflation, and warn of potential Chinese influence on the archipelago.