UK Halts Chagos Agreement Amid Tensions with Trump

The UK government has temporarily paused its plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, citing escalating tensions with President Donald Trump. The US had not officially endorsed the agreement, which was a key factor in the decision. Earlier, Trump had supported the deal but later criticized it, calling it an “act of total weakness” in January. Despite this, officials maintain that the agreement is not entirely abandoned, though legislative progress has stalled before the dissolution of Parliament.

The Chagos Islands, formally the British Indian Ocean Territory, have been under British control since the early 1800s. The proposed deal would see the UK relinquish control of the territory to Mauritius while retaining a joint military base on Diego Garcia through an annual lease payment averaging £101 million. A government spokesperson emphasized that Diego Garcia remains a vital strategic asset for both nations, stating:

“Ensuring its long-term operational security is and will continue to be our priority—it is the entire reason for the deal. We continue to believe the agreement is the best way to protect the base’s future, but we would only proceed with US backing.”

The deal was signed in May 2025 and initially welcomed by the US. However, Trump’s stance shifted in early 2026, prompting him to urge Prime Minister Starmer to abandon the plan. His comments on Truth Social criticized the agreement as “a blight on our great ally,” despite the State Department’s prior endorsement. This inconsistency has raised concerns among critics, who argue it undermines the UK’s ability to secure the deal.

Chagossians, who were displaced from the islands decades ago, view the agreement as a betrayal. They advocate for the UK to retain sovereignty to facilitate their eventual return. The shelving of the deal has been welcomed by opposition parties. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stated:

“If Keir Starmer’s Chagos surrender now finds its rightful place—on the ash heap of history—it will be because Conservatives led the fight against it from day one. That it took so long is another damning indictment of a prime minister who fought to hand over British territory and pay £35bn to use a crucial military base already ours.”

Nigel Farage of Reform UK added:

“This is great news and long overdue. Now the government must right a terrible wrong and help the Chagossians fully resettle their home.”

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller criticized the handling of the deal, saying:

“The Chagos process has been shambolic—from its start under the Tories to this point under Labour. But Trump’s fickle approach shows how unreliable he is. We had a strong, stable military partnership with the US, which Trump has gravely endangered.”