Britain Review Chagos Deal After US Support Goes Missing

The UK government is reviewing its agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after the United States declined to support the deal in its current form, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said on Wednesday. The move follows renewed criticism from US President Donald Trump, who described the agreement as a terrible deal during a meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Under the agreement negotiated by the previous UK government, Britain would transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining access to the strategically important Diego Garcia military base through a 99 year lease. The base, jointly used by the UK and US, is regarded by British officials as a significant national-security asset because of its location in the Indian Ocean. Streeting said the agreement could not proceed in its current form without American backing. He said the government would now work with Washington to try to reach an arrangement that could secure long term certainty for the Diego Garcia base. The agreement had already been paused indefinitely in April after Trump withdrew his support. Streeting's latest comments make clear that the government is now examining whether changes to the arrangement could address US concerns rather than simply proceeding with the existing terms. What was agreed ? The proposed treaty would see Mauritius gain sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, while Britain would retain access to Diego Garcia under a long term lease. The UK government previously estimated the overall cost of the arrangement at about £3.4bn, while payment to Mauritius would form part of the lease arrangement. The agreement has faced criticism from political opponents in Britain. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for the deal to be scrapped, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also declared the agreement effectively dead. The proposed transfer has also been shaped by a long running dispute over the island history. Mauritius argues that Britain unlawfully separated the Chagos Islands from the colony of Mauritius in 1965, shortly before Mauritian independence. In 2019, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion stating that Britain administration of the Chagos Islands should end as rapidly as possible. Although the opinion was advisory rather than a binding judgment ordering an immediate transfer, it strengthened Mauritius international position and contributed to negotiations between London and Port Louis. Diego Garcia remains the key issue The future of Diego Garcia appears to be the central consideration behind the UK review. Streeting described the military facility as one of Britain most sensitive and valuable national security assets and said the government wanted to establish long term certainty over its continued operation. The US also considers the base strategically important, making American support a crucial element of any revised agreement. Burnham, who met Trump at the UN General Assembly, said the government would work to find a resolution between the different parties while emphasising the importance of safeguarding the base. The UK government position therefore remains focused on finding an arrangement that addresses the sovereignty dispute while maintaining the military facility long term security. No immediate payments to Mauritius Streeting has also said that payments to Mauritius will not be made at this stage while officials review the agreement. The review does not appear to have a fixed timetable or constitute a formal process with a specific deadline. Government sources have indicated that the latest review does not necessarily represent a complete reversal of the previous policy, since British officials had already recognised that US support was essential to implementing the arrangement. However, the renewed US opposition means the existing terms are unlikely to move forward without changes. For Britain, the challenge is now to reconcile three competing considerations: Mauritius sovereignty claim, the UK legal and diplomatic commitments, and the strategic importance of maintaining access to Diego Garcia with US backing. The out come of the review could determine whether the Chagos agreement is renegotiated, substantially amended or ultimately abandoned.