Britain has decided to put on hold its plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, home to the strategically important Diego Garcia US-UK military base, after facing strong opposition from US President Donald Trump. A government spokesperson confirmed on Saturday that the handover would only proceed if it had US backing, amid reports that parliamentary legislation to return the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius was nearing expiration.
In January, Trump sharply criticized the agreement, calling it a display of “great stupidity” by London. This marked a reversal from his earlier endorsement of the deal when it was signed last May. Under the agreement, Britain had consented to return sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while retaining a lease on Diego Garcia, the largest island that hosts the military base currently operated by the United States.
Diego Garcia is one of two bases the UK has allowed the US to use for what the British government described as “defensive operations” in the conflict with Iran. The proposed arrangement would have seen Britain hand over the archipelago, located approximately 2,000 kilometers northeast of Mauritius, while securing a century-long lease to maintain the US-UK military presence.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has emphasized that international legal decisions have cast doubt on Britain’s claim to the Chagos Islands, and that only a formal agreement with Mauritius could ensure the base’s continued operation. Britain retained control of the islands after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s but forcibly removed thousands of Chagos islanders, who have since pursued legal claims for compensation in British courts.
In 2019, the International Court of Justice advised that Britain should return the archipelago to Mauritius. The deal would have granted Britain a 99-year lease on the base, with an option to extend. While the UK government has not officially disclosed the lease cost, it has not denied reports suggesting it could amount to £90 million ($111 million) annually.
