Chagos Islands treaty is now ‘impossible to agree at political level’, UK minister says

A treaty to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has become impossible to agree at the political level due to US withdrawal of support. The UK government had initially negotiated the agreement with the US and Mauritius, but Donald Trump's position appears to have changed. The 1966 UK-US agreement on the availability for defence purposes of British Indian Ocean territories needs to be updated to ratify the treaty. As a result, the Diego Garcia bill cannot complete its passage through parliament this parliamentary session. The delay is a setback for the Chagossians who see the treaty as their only viable means of resettlement with Mauritius. The UK government remains confident in the treaty's benefits for future generations and allies.

Mauritius has vowed to pursue all avenues to "decolonize" the Chagos Islands after the UK government shelved legislation to hand the territory back to them. The UK's decision was influenced by a lack of full support from the US, despite initial backing from the State Department. The US President criticized the plan, even though the islands host the joint US-UK Diego Garcia military base. The UK government stated that ensuring the base's long-term security remains their priority and the reason for the proposed agreement. The International Court of Justice ruled in 2019 that the UK unlawfully separated the islands from Mauritius, and thousands of islanders were forcibly deported to establish the base.

The UK has indefinitely delayed its agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius due to the U.S. withdrawing its support for the deal. The islands are home to a joint U.K.-American military base on Diego Garcia. The British government acknowledged that legislation to ratify the agreement has run out of time in Parliament. The reversal follows a change in stance from former U.S. President Trump, who previously supported the deal but later opposed it. Despite the setback, the UK hopes to revive the agreement, emphasizing the strategic importance of Diego Garcia for both countries' military operations. The delay is due to the bill not being included in the next session of Parliament, which begins May 13.

The UK has paused a bill to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius due to opposition from the United States. The proposed deal involved ceding sovereignty to Mauritius while leasing Diego Garcia, home to a US-UK military base, back from them for 99 years. The UK government stated that US support is necessary for the deal to proceed, as Diego Garcia is a key strategic military asset. Former US President Trump initially opposed the move, but appeared to soften his stance after speaking with the UK Prime Minister. The UK government is continuing discussions with both the US and Mauritius to find a resolution that protects the long-term future of the base.

The UK government has paused its planned handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following criticism from former US President Donald Trump. The proposed legislation to cede the islands, which include the Diego Garcia military base, will not be included in the government's next parliamentary agenda. The UK is seeking Washington's approval for the deal, which would grant Mauritius sovereignty while allowing Britain to retain control of the Diego Garcia base on a 99-year lease, preserving US operations. Ensuring the long-term operational security of Diego Garcia remains a priority for the British government. The Chagos Islands are of strategic importance due to the US-British airbase located on Diego Garcia.

The UK government has shelved legislation to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius due to the US withdrawing its support. The UK aimed to cede sovereignty to Mauritius while leasing Diego Garcia, the largest island and site of a joint US-UK military base, for 99 years. The US's change of heart is reportedly linked to disagreements over the use of UK airbases in relation to Iran, which recently struck the Diego Garcia base. Without US backing, the UK cannot proceed with the agreement, which is considered crucial for the long-term operational security of the base. A new Chagos bill is not expected in the upcoming parliamentary agenda.