The United Kingdom has paused its plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following opposition from the United States, the British government confirmed on Saturday.
The proposed deal involves the Chagos archipelago, which includes the strategically significant Diego Garcia military base jointly operated by the UK and the US. According to The Times, legislation required to formalize the transfer will not be included in the government’s upcoming parliamentary agenda.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said the UK will continue efforts to secure formal approval from Washington before moving forward with the agreement.
Former US President Donald Trump has been a vocal critic of the deal, calling it a “big mistake” earlier this year. He had previously suggested that the arrangement might be the best outcome the UK could achieve, but later expressed strong opposition.
Under the proposed agreement, Britain would cede sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while retaining control of the Diego Garcia base under a 99-year lease, ensuring continued US military operations.
A UK government spokesperson emphasized that maintaining the long-term operational security of the Diego Garcia base remains a top priority. “We believe this agreement offers the best way to secure the base’s future, but we have always been clear that it depends on US support,” the spokesperson said, adding that discussions with both the US and Mauritius are ongoing.
Recent tensions between London and Washington have added complexity to the situation. The traditionally close alliance has been strained over the UK’s reluctance to fully support US involvement in the Middle East, particularly regarding the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Initially, the UK declined to allow US forces to use British bases for offensive operations, although it later permitted what officials described as defensive strikes.
Trump has also criticized Prime Minister Starmer personally, stating that he is “not Winston Churchill” and accusing him of damaging the long-standing “special relationship” between the two nations.
The future of the Chagos Islands deal now appears uncertain as diplomatic efforts continue to align UK and US positions.