LONDON, April 11 – The British government announced on Saturday that it has paused its plan to give up control of the Chagos Islands, home to the U.S.-British Diego Garcia air base. This decision comes after criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The new legislation needed to transfer the islands to Mauritius, which requires approval from Washington, will not be presented in the government’s upcoming parliamentary schedule, according to The Times.
The office of Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that London would attempt to convince Washington to formally support the agreement.
Back in February, Trump labeled the deal a “big mistake” and previously indicated it was the best outcome Starmer could expect.
If the agreement moves forward, Britain will maintain control over the crucial military base on Diego Garcia with a 99-year lease that secures U.S. activities there.
A spokesperson for the British government emphasized that ensuring the long-term security of Diego Garcia remains a top priority. They stated, “We believe the agreement is the best way to secure the future of the base, but we will only proceed if we have U.S. support. We are still in discussions with both the U.S. and Mauritius.”
In the late 1960s and 1970s, the UK forcibly removed around 2,000 indigenous Chagossians to establish the military base on Diego Garcia.
Recently, the alliance between the U.S. and the UK has faced challenges due to Starmer's hesitation to engage in the U.S.-Israeli conflict over Iran and his initial refusal to allow Trump to use British air bases for attacks.
Since then, U.S. forces have been allowed to conduct what the prime minister refers to as defensive operations.
Trump has also openly criticized Starmer, suggesting he is “not Winston Churchill” and claiming he has damaged the so-called “special relationship” between Britain and the U.S.
Mauritius Attorney General Gavin Glover told local media on Saturday that the UK and the U.S. must find “common ground” to move forward. He added, “It’s no surprise to us that the agreement is on hold. The tension between Keir Starmer and Donald Trump is at the core of the issue, as the UK requires U.S. alignment for the treaty.”
Glover noted that discussions between Mauritius and the UK are scheduled for later this month.
Toby Noskwith, a spokesperson for the Indigenous Chagossian People, remarked that there has been uncertainty from senior members of the Trump administration regarding the deal from the start.
“We are shocked that it has come to this. The issue has primarily been framed as a government-to-government matter, but the people most affected throughout this process have been the Chagossians, especially the elders and survivors,” Noskwith said.
He raised concerns about "the huge amounts of money wasted on a failed negotiation and the legality of a plan that disregarded the Chagossians’ right to self-determination." Noskwith also urged Starmer to ensure that the Chagossian people are resettled with dignity.