Chagos deal paused over Trump opposition, minister confirms

Chagos Agreement Suspended Due to Trump’s Shift in Stance, Minister States

UK Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty has stated that the Chagos Islands agreement has been indefinitely halted following the withdrawal of U.S. President Donald Trump’s backing. The proposed deal would have transferred control of the territory to Mauritius while enabling the UK and U.S. to maintain joint operations on Diego Garcia, with annual payments of £101 million ($136 million) for the lease. Trump, who had earlier endorsed the treaty, reversed his position in January, criticizing it as an “act of total weakness.”

Doughty’s announcement came in response to an Urgent Question from Conservative lawmakers, following a BBC report that Sir Keir Starmer had delayed the process. During a House of Commons session, the minister emphasized the U.S. president’s influence, stating that the update to the 1966 UK-US agreement—known as the Exchange of Notes—could no longer be finalized at the political level. This update is crucial for ratifying the treaty, he explained.

“In recent weeks, the position of the United States president appears to have changed,” Doughty said. “This means that, in practical terms, it has become impossible to agree at political level an update to the 1966 UK-US agreement concerning the Availability for Defence Purposes of the British Indian Ocean Territory.”

Despite prior collaboration between the UK and U.S. under multiple administrations, Trump’s latest stance has disrupted the process. The prime minister’s spokesperson remained non-committal on reintroducing legislation in the next session, starting on May 13, saying any updates would follow the usual announcement procedure. Meanwhile, five other bills from the current session will carry over to the next parliamentary term, but the Chagos Bill is not included.

The original agreement, signed last year, outlined the UK’s transfer of sovereignty to Mauritius with a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia, valued at £3.4 billion. However, critics argue the true cost could rise to £35 billion when adjusted for inflation, and warn of potential Chinese influence over the territory. Doughty confirmed that payments cannot commence without the treaty’s ratification, highlighting the necessity of passing relevant legislation.

Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel pressed Doughty to clarify whether the government would pursue new legislation without Trump’s support. She questioned if the surrender treaty could become operational without U.S. endorsement. Doughty acknowledged the Conservatives had initiated the process but did not specify if a revised Bill would emerge, leaving the future of the deal uncertain.

With the current parliamentary session concluding, the Chagos Islands remain under UK control until the agreement is finalized. UK officials now plan to discuss next steps with the U.S. and Mauritius, aiming to resolve the stalemate. The minister reiterated that the delay, while regrettable, does not alter the fundamental need for the treaty’s implementation.