UK Shelves Chagos Islands Sovereignty Transfer After US Withdraws Support
The United Kingdom has suspended legislation to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following withdrawn support from the United States. President Donald Trump criticized the deal, which included a 99-year lease for the strategic Diego Garcia military base, citing security concerns amid tensions over Iran. This decision halts a long-standing diplomatic resolution, straining UK-US relations and leaving displaced Chagossians in limbo. Mauritius vows to continue pursuing decolonization through legal and diplomatic channels, highlighting the complex interplay between historical justice and contemporary geopolitical military interests in the Indian Ocean.
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UK Minister: Chagos Islands Treaty Impossible Due to US Withdrawal
A treaty to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has become politically unviable, according to UK Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty. He announced that the corresponding legislation will not complete its passage through parliament following the withdrawal of support from the United States. Initially negotiated in close coordination with Washington, the agreement relied on updating the 1966 UK-US exchange of notes to allow continued joint military operations on Diego Garcia for 99 years. Doughty stated that former US President Donald Trump’s position appears to have changed, rendering the necessary diplomatic updates impossible. This development halts the UK government's plan to return the archipelago to Mauritius, a move previously seen as crucial for the sustainable resettlement of Chagossians. The setback also highlights deteriorating relations between London and Washington, exacerbated by recent criticisms from Trump regarding UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s stance on the Iran war. Despite the legislative failure, the UK government maintains that the proposed treaty remained the best framework for securing the military base's future operational capacity for both British and American interests.
The GuardianMauritius Vows to Decolonise Chagos Islands After UK Shelves Handover Deal
Mauritius has pledged to spare no effort in regaining control of the Chagos Islands after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer shelved legislation to transfer sovereignty. The UK government admitted it ran out of time in the current parliamentary session, primarily due to a lack of formal approval from US President Donald Trump. Trump had criticized the deal, which involved ceding sovereignty to Mauritius while leasing the strategic Diego Garcia military base back to the UK and US for 99 years. Mauritian Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful declared that his government would pursue all diplomatic and legal avenues to complete the decolonization process, calling it a matter of justice. The collapse of the agreement highlights faltering US-UK relations amid broader geopolitical tensions. The Chagos Islands, known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, were separated from Mauritius before its independence in 1968, a move later ruled unlawful by the International Court of Justice. With the bill dropped, the issue remains unresolved, leaving thousands of displaced islanders in limbo and straining diplomatic ties between London, Port Louis, and Washington.
The GuardianUK Halts Chagos Islands Transfer to Mauritius After Trump Criticism
The United Kingdom has suspended its planned agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following sharp criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump. The proposed deal, which aimed to grant Mauritius formal control over the archipelago while ensuring the continued operation of the joint U.S.-British military base on Diego Garcia, was publicly condemned by Trump as an act of great stupidity. This diplomatic reversal highlights the significant influence of U.S. political figures on British foreign policy decisions, particularly regarding strategic military assets. The Chagos Islands have long been a subject of international dispute, with the International Court of Justice previously ruling that the UK's separation of the islands from Mauritius during decolonization was illegal. The suspension of the deal underscores the complex interplay between historical colonial grievances, contemporary geopolitical strategy, and bilateral relations between the UK, US, and Mauritius. The situation remains fluid as stakeholders assess the future of the territory and the security arrangements for the critical military installation located there.
NYT > World NewsUK Halts Chagos Islands Handover After Trump Withdraws Support
The United Kingdom has indefinitely suspended its agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following the withdrawal of support by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. The British government acknowledged that legislation required to ratify the deal will not pass before the current parliamentary session ends, largely due to strained relations between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Trump. Trump, who initially backed the arrangement, recently labeled the transfer an act of great stupidity, citing strategic concerns over the joint U.K.-U.S. military base on Diego Garcia. Although London maintains that the deal protects the base from legal challenges and ensures long-term operational security, officials stated they would only proceed with American backing. Consequently, the treaty is expected to remain in deep freeze. The decision highlights growing diplomatic tensions, exacerbated by Trump’s criticism of NATO allies and Starmer’s handling of regional conflicts. Opposition parties in the U.K. had already opposed the deal, fearing interference from China and Russia, while displaced Chagossians continue to advocate for their right to return to the islands, expressing concern that the political stalemate further delays their potential repatriation.
AP NewsUK Pauses Chagos Islands Deal Amid US Opposition
The United Kingdom has decided to pause a legislative bill intended to return sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, citing a lack of support from United States President Donald Trump. The proposed agreement, initially announced last May, aimed to cede the archipelago to Mauritius while securing a 99-year lease for Diego Garcia, a strategic military base critical to US and UK operations in the Indian Ocean. Despite earlier diplomatic efforts where Trump temporarily softened his stance following talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he subsequently criticized the deal as a significant error. A UK government spokesperson emphasized that proceeding without explicit US backing is not an option, highlighting the base's operational security as the primary concern. This decision occurs amidst strained relations between London and Washington, exacerbated by differing approaches to the ongoing US-Israel conflict involving Iran. The Chagos Islands have been under British control since 1814, but their status has been contested internationally, with the International Court of Justice recommending their return to Mauritius in 2019. The pause reflects the complex interplay between decolonization obligations and strategic military interests in the region.
Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al JazeeraUK Shelves Chagos Islands Deal Following Trump's Criticism
The United Kingdom has suspended its legislative process to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, following intense criticism from US President Donald Trump. According to British media reports cited by Middle East Eye, Trump characterized the potential handover as a significant strategic error, despite agreements ensuring continued joint US-UK access to the Diego Garcia military base. This atoll is a pivotal asset for American military operations, positioning bomber aircraft within 5,300 kilometers of Iran and serving as a crucial hub for power projection in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions. The base requires UK authorization for use but has historically facilitated rapid US responses, including bombing campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan during the War on Terror. The decision to shelve the deal underscores the tension between diplomatic resolutions regarding colonial-era territories and contemporary geopolitical security interests. By halting the transfer, the UK prioritizes maintaining the status quo of military accessibility over concluding long-standing sovereignty disputes with Mauritius, reflecting the profound influence of US strategic preferences on British foreign policy decisions concerning critical defense infrastructure.
Section FeedUK Shelves Chagos Islands Handover Legislation After US Withdraws Support
The UK government has been forced to shelve legislation intended to return sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, following the withdrawal of support from the United States. Officials acknowledged that time had run out to pass the necessary law within the current parliamentary session, which is ending soon. The original agreement involved ceding sovereignty to Mauritius while leasing Diego Garcia, the archipelago's largest island, for 99 years to maintain a joint US-UK military base. The setback highlights deteriorating relations between London and Washington, exacerbated by President Donald Trump's criticism of Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding the handling of the Iran conflict. Trump reportedly turned against the deal after the UK refused to allow its bases to be used for pre-emptive US strikes on Iran. Consequently, the Chagos bill is not expected to appear in the upcoming King's Speech. This development follows recent tensions, including an Iranian missile strike on Diego Garcia, and marks a significant pause in the long-standing diplomatic process to resolve the status of the islands.
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