The UK government has been forced to shelve its legislation to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after the United States withdrew its backing for the agreement, officials acknowledged on Friday. Time has run out to pass the bill in the current parliamentary session, which ends in coming weeks.
The setback, which casts doubt on the future of the Chagos deal, underscores worsening US-UK relations after Donald Trump’s criticism of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. A government spokesperson said Diego Garcia, which hosts a joint US-UK military base, is a key strategic asset and that the long-term operational security of the base remains a priority. “We continue to believe the agreement is the best way to protect the long-term future of the base, but we have always said we would only proceed with the deal if it has US support,” the spokesperson added.
Under the deal, the UK would cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease Diego Garcia for 99 years for continued military use. The US had not formally exchanged letters to amend a 1966 treaty, effectively forcing the UK to drop the bill. A new Chagos bill is not expected to feature in the King’s Speech in May.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the delay “another damning indictment of a prime minister who fought to hand over British sovereign territory and pay £35bn to use a crucial military base which was already ours”. Former Foreign Office permanent secretary Simon McDonald told the BBC the government had “no other choice” than to halt the deal while the US president is “openly hostile”. The Reform UK leader Nigel Farage welcomed the news, urging the government to help Chagossians resettle their home, while Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller described the handling as “shambolic”.
