Britain has suspended plans to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following strong opposition from Donald Trump, a government spokesperson has said.
“We have always maintained that the deal would only go ahead with US support,” the spokesperson noted, amid reports that legislation required to transfer sovereignty failed to progress in parliament.
The island group includes Diego Garcia, a strategically significant base jointly operated by the United States and the United Kingdom. Trump had earlier criticised the proposed agreement, calling it “great stupidity.”
The government of Keir Starmer said it still supports the deal but acknowledged it cannot move forward without backing from Washington. Reports indicate that introducing a new bill to return the islands is unlikely.
Under an agreement reached in May, Britain planned to transfer sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while leasing Diego Garcia for long-term military use. The arrangement included a 99-year lease, with the possibility of an extension.
Located about 2,000 kilometres northeast of Mauritius, the Chagos Islands have been at the centre of a long-running international dispute. Britain retained control after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s and forcibly displaced thousands of islanders, many of whom have since sought compensation through legal action.
In 2019, the International Court of Justice advised that Britain should return the territory to Mauritius, increasing pressure for a resolution.
However, security and geopolitical concerns—particularly regarding the Diego Garcia base—have continued to complicate the issue, with the UK government emphasising the importance of maintaining the facility for defence operations.
