UK puts Chagos Islands handover deal on hold after Trump withdraws support

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.