The government of U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has decided to pause its plan to transfer control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, influenced by objections from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Reports from British media outlets indicate that a bill supporting this transfer will not be included in next month’s King’s Speech.
Military base at Diego Garcia under scrutiny
Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos archipelago, is home to a significant U.S.-U.K. military base. Starmer’s administration had aimed to finalize an agreement that would involve Britain compensating Mauritius with £3.4 billion over a century in exchange for the continued use of the strategic military facility.
President Trump, who has previously changed his stance on the issue, expressed strong disapproval in February, cautioning Starmer that proceeding with the handover would be a “big mistake.” He stated, “This land should not be taken away from the U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally.”
Legal challenges loom as time runs out
This week, the British government acknowledged an urgent need to pass the necessary legislation. A government spokesperson reaffirmed the belief that the agreement was the best option for ensuring the base’s long-term future, but emphasized that progress would only be made with U.S. backing.
The proposed agreement was intended to mitigate the risk of a potentially costly legal battle with Mauritius over the former colony’s sovereignty. Following Trump’s recent intervention, Mauritius indicated that it is considering legal actions against the U.K.
Toby Noskwith, representing the Indigenous Chagossian People, criticized the situation, highlighting the significant financial resources expended on a negotiation that has now fallen apart. As tensions rise over military collaboration between the U.S. and the U.K., Starmer’s refusal to endorse American-Israeli attacks on Iran has further complicated relations.
During the recent Middle East conflict, Iran launched two ballistic missiles targeting the Diego Garcia base; fortunately, these attacks were unsuccessful.