UK government ‘pauses’ Chagos deal amid Trump criticism

The proposed £35 billion agreement includes a plan to lease back the crucial UK-US military base on Diego Garcia
Legislation intended to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has reportedly been put on hold, following direct criticism from Donald Trump.

The proposed £35 billion agreement, which includes a plan to lease back the crucial UK-US military base on Diego Garcia – the largest island in the remote Indian Ocean archipelago – is now facing significant hurdles.

A key piece of legislation, the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill , is not expected to feature in the Government’s legislative agenda for the forthcoming King’s Speech in May, The Times has reported.

The Republican, who had previously supported the arrangement, branded the deal an "act of great stupidity" in a post on his Truth Social platform in January, directly impacting its progression.

A Government source, speaking to The Times , acknowledged the agreement as "the best way to protect the long-term future of the base" but confirmed that proceedings would not continue without Mr Trump’s endorsement.

This stance was echoed by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who declared the deal should find its "rightful place – on the ash heap of history."
He has also repeatedly criticised the Prime Minister throughout the conflict in the Middle East, with the White House saying Britain and Nato allies have “turned their backs” on the American people during the Iran war.

Mrs Badenoch said: “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 sovereign territory and pay £35 billion to use a crucial military base which was already ours.”
In February, there was confusion over whether the Bill was going ahead, with Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer telling the Commons that the deal had been “paused” although Government officials later said he misspoke.

The US administration had initially hailed the deal as a “monumental achievement” but Mr Trump subsequently lambasted it as an act of “total weakness”.

He then reversed his position, saying it was “the best” deal Sir Keir could make before withdrawing support again.

Legislation enabling the handover has not appeared before Parliament since 20 January despite being in its final stages.

The Government has argued the deal is necessary to guarantee the future of the Diego Garcia base after an advisory International Court of Justice ruling in 2019 backed Mauritian claims to sovereignty over the islands.

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