UK Pauses Chagos Islands Handover After US Opposition

The UK government has paused its plan to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, following opposition from US President Donald Trump. The decision comes as relations between the two nations have strained over Britain's stance on the Iran war and the use of British air bases.

According to multiple reports, planned legislation underpinning the deal will not be included in the government's next parliamentary agenda. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office stated that London would try to persuade Washington to give its formal approval for the handover. The deal involves a 99-year lease for Diego Garcia military base, ensuring long-term operational security.

The Chagos Islands, officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, have been under UK control since the early 19th century. The deal would see the UK cede sovereignty to Mauritius while leasing back the strategically important Diego Garcia island for a joint military base with an annual cost of £101 million.

Tensions between the US and UK have escalated recently, particularly over Starmer's reluctance to involve Britain in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Trump has repeatedly criticized Starmer, calling the deal "a big mistake" despite earlier endorsing it as the best possible arrangement. The Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed the delay, criticizing Starmer for attempting to hand over British sovereign territory.

A British government spokesperson emphasized that ensuring the long-term operational security of Diego Garcia would remain a priority. They stated, "We continue to believe the agreement is the best way to protect the long-term future of the base, but we have always said we would only proceed with the deal if it has US support. We are continuing to engage with the US and Mauritius."

Britain forcibly displaced up to 2,000 indigenous Chagossians in the late 1960s and 1970s to establish the base on the Diego Garcia atoll. Toby Noskwith, a spokesperson for Indigenous Chagossian People, expressed astonishment at the current situation, highlighting that the Chagossians have been largely overlooked in the process. He questioned the legality of the plan and called for Starmer to facilitate the dignified resettlement of the Chagossian people.