(AFP) – The UK has decided not to move forward with plans to return the Chagos Islands, which includes the crucial Diego Garcia military base, following strong opposition from US President Donald Trump, as announced by a government spokesperson on Saturday.
“We’ve always maintained that we would only advance with the deal if we had backing from the United States,” the spokesperson stated, indicating that a bill aimed at transferring the Indian Ocean islands to Mauritius is likely to lapse in parliament.
In January, President Trump criticized the UK’s approach, describing it as a “huge stupidity.” Under a Chagos agreement established last year, Britain had intended to hand the archipelago, located approximately 2,000 kilometers northeast of Mauritius, back to Mauritius while covering the costs for a century-long lease of Diego Garcia, the largest island housing a military base.
“Diego Garcia is a significant military asset for both the UK and the US. Ensuring its long-term operational security remains our priority, and that’s the essence of this deal,” the Downing Street spokesperson remarked.
Relations with both the United States and Mauritius continue, the spokesperson added.
President Trump initially supported the agreement but later criticized it sharply in comments made in January on Truth Social. He expressed concerns that the UK was planning to give up Diego Garcia “for no reason whatsoever.” He said, “There is no doubt that China and Russia recognized this complete act of undermining,” suggesting it underscored the need for the US to acquire Greenland from Denmark, an ally.
Diego Garcia was one of two bases Britain allowed the US to utilize for what the British government described as a “defensive operation” in its efforts against Iran.
Mr. Starmer, the leader of the opposition, previously argued that international legal decisions had raised questions about Britain’s ownership of the Chagos Islands, claiming that only a deal with Mauritius would guarantee the base’s operational status.
Government officials, as reported by the BBC, stated that while the deal isn’t entirely off the table, the legislation will likely not be passed before parliament breaks for the upcoming weeks, and there seems to be no chance of a new Chagos bill being introduced anytime soon.
Britain retained control over the Chagos Islands even after Mauritius achieved independence in the 1960s, a situation that led to thousands of Chagossians being displaced and prompted several compensation claims filed in British courts.
The International Court of Justice recommended in 2019 that Britain should relinquish the islands to Mauritius. According to the agreement, Britain would lease the base for 99 years, with renewal options available. The British government hasn’t disclosed the lease’s exact cost but has not excluded the possibility of it amounting to around 90 million pounds ($111 million) annually.
