Chagos deal paused over Trump opposition, minister confirms

Chagos Deal Paused Over Trump Opposition, Minister Confirms

Deal Halted by U.S. Shift in Stance

The UK’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been indefinitely delayed, according to Foreign Secretary Stephen Doughty. The agreement, which would have ceded control of the territory to Mauritius while maintaining a joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, now faces an uncertain future due to the U.S. president’s withdrawal of support.

Doughty’s announcement came in response to a query from Conservative lawmakers, following a BBC report that revealed Sir Keir Starmer had temporarily set aside the deal. The minister emphasized that the treaty’s progress was halted because of the U.S. government’s change in position, which he described as a “major setback” in negotiations.

Trump’s Role in the Stalemate

While Trump had initially endorsed the treaty, he later reversed his stance, criticizing it as an “act of total weakness” in January. This shift left the UK unable to finalize the deal, even though the agreement had been negotiated in close coordination with the U.S. under multiple administrations. Doughty noted that the 1966 UK-US accord, known as the Exchange of Notes, had been considered “very strong and powerful” by Trump prior to his opposition.

“In recent weeks, the position of the United States president appears to have changed,” Doughty stated. “And this means that, in practical terms, it has become impossible to agree at political level an update to the 1966 UK-US agreement concerning the Availability for Defence Purposes of the British Indian Ocean Territory.”

Financial and Legal Implications

The deal involved annual lease payments of £101 million for the joint military base, with a total cost of £3.4 billion over 99 years. However, the minister clarified that no payments would be made during the current delay, as the treaty remains unratified. The UK and Mauritius signed the agreement last year, but the final legislation has yet to secure approval from both the Commons and Lords.

Doughty acknowledged the need for the treaty to proceed but noted the lack of time in this parliamentary session. Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel pressed for confirmation that the government would not attempt to fast-track the process without Trump’s backing, asking if new legislation would be introduced next session regardless of the King’s Speech.

Opposition Concerns and Future Steps

The minister stated that the UK would now discuss next steps with the U.S. and Mauritius. Critics argue the true cost of the deal could reach £35 billion when adjusted for inflation, and warn that it might enable China to gain strategic foothold in the region. The government remains committed to finalizing the treaty, though the timeline remains unclear.