All articles tagged with #chagos islands
Mauritius vows to push ahead with decolonising the Chagos Islands after a plan to hand sovereignty to Mauritius was shelved due to stalled US support and Trump’s criticisms, with officials saying diplomatic and legal avenues will be pursued to resolve the dispute over Diego Garcia and sovereignty.
The UK has paused its plan to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after Donald Trump criticized the deal; Britain still backs the concept to safeguard the Diego Garcia base, but there isn’t enough time left in this parliamentary session to enshrine it into law, and the government says it will keep engaging with the U.S. and Mauritius.
Britain has halted a bill to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after President Trump opposed the deal, saying the US would not back it; the plan would have Mauritius gain full sovereignty while the UK leased Diego Garcia for 99 years to preserve US military operations, a move tied to decades-long disputes over the archipelago and the rights of the Chagossians. The UK says it will only proceed with US support and continues to engage with both the US and Mauritius.
Iran reportedly fired two ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, a joint US–UK base in the Indian Ocean; one missile failed in flight and the other was intercepted by a US warship, with no damage reported. The UK Ministry of Defence called the attack reckless, and analysts remain uncertain whether Iran has missiles long enough to reach the 2,350-mile target, though some note longer-range options. The incident occurs amid broader regional tensions and ongoing debates over UK–US use of bases to defend shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Donald Trump condemned Keir Starmer’s plan to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while renewing a 99-year UK-US lease on Diego Garcia, arguing the base could be needed to counter Iran; the sovereignty dispute stems from decades of displacement of Chagossians and international rulings, with the UK insisting the arrangement is essential for security.
Trump tempered earlier criticism by endorsing the UK-Mauritius Chagos sovereignty deal after talks with Keir Starmer, while stating the US would retain the right to militarily secure Diego Garcia. The agreement transfers full sovereignty to Mauritius for 99 years and guarantees continued US base operations, amid decades of displacement of the Chagossians.
The US backs the UK’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back the Diego Garcia base for 99 years, with Downing Street and White House confirming continued cooperation on implementation. Trump endorsed Prime Minister Starmer’s agreement as the best possible deal, but said he reserves the right to reinforce US operations if needed; the White House reiterated the US will protect its assets. A draft ratification bill is advancing amid security concerns and criticism from Conservatives and Reform UK about national security and Mauritius’s ties to China.
Keir Starmer defended the deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands (including Diego Garcia) to Mauritius, noting earlier statements of support from U.S. officials Rubio and Hegseth; renewed talks with Washington are underway, the base remains under UK/U.S. control for 99 years, Mauritius will receive payments, and Trump criticized the deal afterward, prompting mixed reactions from opponents.
Keir Starmer says U.S. intelligence agencies reviewed and backed the 2024 Chagos–Mauritius handover after an agency-level review, contradicting Donald Trump’s public opposition; Downing Street maintains the deal is done and won’t be derailed by Washington. The agreement includes a 99-year Diego Garcia lease and about £3.4bn in official costs, with U.S. security concerns and potential implications for ICJ considerations cited as talks continue, even as the Lords debate is delayed.
The UK postponed the Lords’ debate on a treaty to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back the US-UK Diego Garcia base, with ministers accusing Conservative peers of parliamentary stunts intended to sabotage the legislation. The bill requires updating the 1966 UK-US agreement and faces a ping-pong between Houses; Trump criticized the deal, and opposition calls for pause pending US clarification. The arrangement would cede sovereignty to Mauritius while paying roughly £101 million a year for 99 years (about £3.4 billion in real terms).
Keir Starmer postponed the Chagos Islands bill after Donald Trump criticised Britain’s plan to hand the archipelago to Mauritius and lease back Diego Garcia, warning it could breach the 1966 UK–US treaty. With talks to update the treaty ongoing, ministers indicated the legislation cannot progress in Parliament until the legal and security implications are resolved.
UK newspapers lead with Donald Trump's NATO remarks triggering anger and calls for apologies, while other papers report a delay in the Chagos Islands bill after US backlash, and related political and economic coverage.
Trump’s influence has pulled Britain’s political center toward his agenda, shaping debates on Greenland, the Chagos Islands, immigration, and social policy. Starmer’s cautious approach limited tariff damage but did not shield the UK from Trump's sway, which has broadened what’s considered acceptable in British politics and deepened polarization across the right and center.
The Lords debate on the UK–Mauritius Chagos deal was postponed after Conservative MPs tabled an amendment calling for a pause, delaying legislation that would grant Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos Islands while letting the UK–US operate Diego Garcia on a 99-year lease for about £101 million annually. The government says the deal is essential for national security, but Tory critics warn it could breach the 1966 treaty and urge securing US agreement before proceeding.
President Donald Trump condemned Britain's plan to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius as 'great stupidity,' arguing the move signals weakness to Russia and China and ties into his push on Greenland; the Diego Garcia base would remain jointly controlled by the UK and U.S. for 99 years, with Mauritius set to receive payments; Downing Street insists the deal is unchanged and enjoys U.S. support, but Trump’s comments add strain to the UK-U.S. relationship as Prime Minister Starmer navigates the alliance, with mixed reactions from allies such as Nigel Farage.