UK shelves Chagos Islands sovereignty deal amid US opposition

The United Kingdom has postponed the treaty to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius due to a lack of formal approval from the United States and political opposition from former President Donald Trump.

The treaty, which includes a leaseback arrangement for a joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, required a formal exchange of letters from the US that has not been received.

UK government officials confirmed that the legislation to enact the treaty will not be passed before the imminent dissolution of Parliament, and the bill is not expected to be included in the King's Speech scheduled for mid-May.

The Chagos Islands, officially the British Indian Ocean Territory, have been under British control since the early 19th century.

The deal would have seen the UK cede sovereignty to Mauritius while paying approximately £101 million annually to lease back the military base on Diego Garcia, a strategic asset for both the UK and US.

A government spokesperson emphasized the importance of maintaining the base's operational security and stated that the UK would only proceed with the agreement if it had US support.

The delay matters as it affects the strategic military cooperation between the UK and US in the Indian Ocean region and the sovereignty status of the Chagos Islands.

The treaty was initially signed in May 2025 and welcomed by the US, but opposition from Donald Trump, who described the deal as an "act of total weakness," has complicated its progress.

In early 2026, Trump publicly criticized the agreement and urged the UK not to "give away Diego Garcia," calling the deal "a blight on our great ally." Despite these comments, the US Department of State had previously given official support to the treaty.

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