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The UK government announced on Saturday that it has paused its plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands—home to the US-UK Diego Garcia military base—which has been heavily criticized by former President Donald Trump. The upcoming legislation intended to transfer control of the islands to Mauritius, a move requiring approval from the U.S., will not be on the next parliamentary agenda, according to The Times.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office stated that London plans to continue negotiations to secure Washington’s formal approval. Trump previously labeled the deal a “big mistake” in February, after calling it the best possible outcome for Starmer. Under this agreement, Britain would hold control of Diego Garcia’s strategic military base through a 99-year lease, ensuring U.S. military operations can continue uninterrupted.
A UK spokesperson emphasized that maintaining the base’s operational security remains a key priority. “We believe this agreement is the best way to safeguard the base’s long-term future, but we will only proceed if the U.S. supports it. We are actively engaging with both the U.S. and Mauritius,” they stated.
Historically, Britain forcibly displaced approximately 2,000 indigenous Chagossians during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s to establish the military presence on Diego Garcia. Toby Noskwith, spokesperson for Indigenous Chagossian People—a campaign group—said that early on, high-level officials in the Trump administration, possibly even Trump himself, expressed reservations about the deal.
“We’re surprised it has come to this point,” Noskwith remarked. “This issue has primarily been viewed as a diplomatic matter between states, but in the process, the Chagossians—especially elders and survivors—have been absent from discussions.” He called for questions to be asked about the significant money spent on negotiations that eventually collapsed, as well as the legality of a plan that denied the Chagossians their right to self-determination. Noskwith also urged Starmer to help ensure a respectful and dignified resettlement for the island’s original inhabitants.
Recently, the close alliance between Washington and London has been strained, especially as Starmer has been hesitant to involve himself in the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and initially refused to allow the use of British bases for attacks at the conflict’s outset. Although U.S. forces have since been permitted to conduct defensive strikes, Trump has repeatedly criticized Starmer, saying he falls short of Winston Churchill and has damaged the so-called “special relationship” between Britain and the U.S.
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