Plans by the United Kingdom to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius have been put on hold following strong resistance from Donald Trump, according to government officials.
A spokesperson for the British government said the proposed deal would only move forward if it had the full backing of the United States. However, the plan has now stalled after legislation needed to formalise the handover reportedly ran out of time in Parliament.
Strategic Base at the Centre of the Dispute
The island chain includes Diego Garcia, home to a major military facility jointly operated by the U.S. and the U.K. The base plays a key role in global defence operations, which has made any decision about the territory politically sensitive.
Earlier this year, Trump openly criticised the proposed agreement, calling it a major mistake and warning against giving up control of such a strategic location.
Starmer Government Still Backs the Deal
Despite the setback, the government of Keir Starmer has maintained that it supports the original arrangement with Mauritius. Still, officials acknowledge that moving ahead without Washington’s approval would be difficult.
Reports suggest that a new bill to transfer sovereignty over the islands is unlikely to be introduced anytime soon.
What the Original Agreement Proposed
Under the agreement announced in May, Britain would have formally handed sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while leasing back Diego Garcia for continued military use.
The deal included a 99-year lease, with an option to extend, allowing the base to remain operational for decades.
A Long-running International Dispute
The Chagos Islands lie about 2,000 kilometres northeast of Mauritius and have been at the centre of diplomatic and legal battles for years.
Britain retained control of the territory after Mauritius gained independence in the late 1960s. During that period, thousands of islanders were forcibly removed from their homes — a move that has since sparked lawsuits and demands for compensation.
In 2019, the International Court of Justice advised that Britain should return the islands to Mauritius, increasing international pressure on London to resolve the dispute.
However, security concerns — particularly the importance of the Diego Garcia military base — continue to complicate the issue, with the U.K. insisting that maintaining the facility remains critical for global defence operations.
