The UK government has announced a fresh review of its proposed agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, following renewed criticism from US President Donald Trump.
Under the original deal, negotiated by the government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the United Kingdom would hand sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius while leasing back the strategically important Diego Garcia military base, jointly operated by the UK and the United States. The arrangement would reportedly involve annual payments averaging £101 million ($136 million).
The agreement had already been placed on hold earlier this year after the Trump administration withdrew its support. Speaking after Trump’s remarks at the United Nations General Assembly, UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed the government was reassessing the proposal.
Streeting said the UK needed to work closely with the United States to secure support for any future arrangement, describing American backing as crucial given the strategic importance of the military facility on Diego Garcia.
The Diego Garcia base is regarded as one of the most significant military installations in the Indian Ocean, providing support for defence, intelligence, and security operations across the region. Ensuring long-term certainty for the base is now the government’s primary focus, according to Streeting.
The sovereignty dispute over the Chagos Islands has been ongoing for decades. Mauritius maintains that it was forced to relinquish the islands before gaining independence from Britain in 1968 and has continued to challenge UK control through international legal forums.
Successive British governments have argued that uncertainty surrounding the territorial dispute could eventually affect the long-term security and operation of the military base. The proposed agreement was intended to resolve the sovereignty issue while preserving defence cooperation between the UK and the US.
Trump recently described the deal as “terrible,” adding further pressure on the British government as it seeks to balance diplomatic, legal, and security considerations.
The review means the future of the agreement remains uncertain, with discussions expected to continue between British and American officials in the coming months.
FB Note: This article reports on ongoing diplomatic and policy discussions. Any agreement remains subject to further negotiations and government decisions.
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