Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty has declared that a treaty to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has become "impossible to agree at political level," with the corresponding bill unable to complete its passage through Parliament. This announcement follows the United States' withdrawal of support for the agreement, which has effectively stalled the UK's legislative efforts to hand over the islands.
US Support Withdrawal Halts Treaty Progress
Stephen Doughty informed the House of Commons that the agreement with Mauritius was initially negotiated in close coordination with the US, but noted that Donald Trump's position "appears to have changed." The UK government was forced to shelve its legislation after the US dropped its backing, despite Trump having previously described the treaty as "very strong and powerful." Doughty emphasized that the document had been "tested thoroughly at all levels of the United States system under two administrations and found to be robust."
Impact on Diego Garcia Military Base
As part of the proposed deal, the UK was to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing the island of Diego Garcia, the site of a joint UK-US military base, for 99 years to ensure continued operations. Doughty explained that updating the 1966 UK-US agreement, known as the "exchange of notes," over the availability of British Indian Ocean territories for defence purposes was necessary to ratify the treaty. With the US withdrawal, this update has become unfeasible.
Consequently, Doughty stated, "the Diego Garcia bill can therefore not complete its passage this parliamentary session and cannot be carried over due to its advanced progression through parliament." He added, "The government nevertheless remains confident that the Diego Garcia treaty is the best means of protecting the full operation of the military base for future generations, for us and our allies."
Broader Implications for UK-US Relations
This setback in the UK's push to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius signals worsening US-UK relations, particularly following Trump's heavy criticism of Keir Starmer over his stance on the Iran war. The diplomatic friction has now spilled over into this critical sovereignty issue, highlighting the fragility of international agreements in the face of shifting political alliances.
Consequences for Chagossians and Resettlement
Doughty acknowledged that the delay will be "sad news to many Chagossians – although I accept not all – who rightly see it as the only viable means to a sustainable programme of resettlement, which Mauritius would be able to implement under its terms." The treaty was viewed as a pathway to decolonisation and resettlement for the displaced islanders, making this halt a significant blow to their hopes for a return to their homeland.
The situation underscores the complex interplay of defence interests, sovereignty disputes, and international diplomacy, with the future of the Chagos Islands now hanging in the balance as political negotiations reach an impasse.
