Chagos deal paused over Trump opposition, minister confirms

Chagos Islands Agreement Indefinitely Postponed Due to Trump Opposition, Foreign Minister Confirms

The UK’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been indefinitely delayed, according to Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty. This pause follows President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of support for the deal, which would have required the UK to pay £101 million annually to lease back the Diego Garcia military base to the United States.

Doughty’s statement, delivered in response to a Conservative Urgent Question, highlights the impact of Trump’s shift in position. The minister noted that despite the treaty being negotiated with close coordination between the UK and US under multiple administrations, the current political climate has made it “impossible to agree” on an updated version of the 1966 UK-US agreement.

“In recent weeks, the United States president’s stance has changed. This has rendered it practical to secure an update to the Exchange of Notes, the legal framework for the British Indian Ocean Territory’s use, at the political level,” Doughty stated.

Trump had earlier endorsed the treaty but reversed his support in January, calling it an “act of total weakness.” The delay also stems from the BBC’s revelation that Sir Keir Starmer had temporarily halted the process. Doughty emphasized that the need for the treaty remains unchanged, though the current parliamentary session will not see its finalization.

The proposed legislation to finalize the deal is yet to gain consensus between the House of Commons and Lords. Without the treaty’s ratification, payments tied to the agreement—estimated at £3.4 billion over 99 years—will not proceed during the delay. Doughty confirmed this to former Conservative minister Dame Harriett Baldwin.

Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel pressed Doughty to clarify if the government would advance the deal without Trump’s backing. She questioned whether new legislation could be introduced next session, independent of the King’s Speech, to make the treaty operational.

While Doughty acknowledged the Conservatives had initiated the process, he did not confirm whether a fresh Bill would be proposed. The prime minister’s spokesperson added that any legislative updates would follow the usual procedure, with discussions ongoing between UK officials, the US, and Mauritius.

Opponents argue the true cost of the deal could reach £35 billion when adjusted for inflation, and warn of potential Chinese influence on the islands. The current session’s five carried-over Bills will continue after May 13, but the Chagos Bill is not among them. Doughty reiterated the agreement’s importance, despite the setback.