The Chagos Islands deal, paused by Britain, has reopened debate over sovereignty, military strategy and the rights of displaced islanders, after London said it would hold back its plan to cede the islands to Mauritius without formal support from Washington.
The proposal covers the Chagos Islands, home to the US-British military base on Diego Garcia. Britain says it still believes the agreement is the best way to secure the base’s future, but it will not proceed unless the United States gives its backing.
Britain’s government said the legislation needed to advance the sovereignty deal would not be included in its next parliamentary agenda. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said London would instead continue trying to persuade Washington to give formal approval. US President Donald Trump criticised the deal in February, calling it a “big mistake.” His opposition has become a major obstacle because the agreement depends on American support.
Under the proposed deal, Britain would cede sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius, while retaining control of the strategically important Diego Garcia base through a 99-year lease, preserving US operations there. A British government spokesperson said protecting the long-term operational security of Diego Garcia remains a priority. That shows the issue is not only about diplomacy, but also about defence and regional military access.
Britain forcibly displaced up to 2,000 indigenous Chagossians in the late 1960s and 1970s to establish the base. Toby Noskwith, speaking for the campaign group Indigenous Chagossian People, said the negotiations had treated the matter mainly as a dispute between states while leaving Chagossians overlooked. He also questioned the legality of a plan that, in his view, denied Chagossians their right to self-determination, and urged Starmer to enable the dignified resettlement of the community.
The pause in the deal comes amid broader strain between London and Washington. Tensions have risen because Starmer has resisted direct involvement in the US-Israeli war on Iran and initially refused to let British air bases support attacks. Although he later allowed US forces to conduct what he described as defensive strikes, Trump has continued to criticise the British prime minister and question the strength of the so-called special relationship.
For now, Britain says it remains engaged with both the United States and Mauritius. That means officials have delayed the deal rather than formally abandoning it, but its future now appears to depend on whether London can secure Washington’s approval. The pause leaves three issues unresolved at once: the future of Diego Garcia, the diplomatic balance between Britain and the United States, and the long-running demands of the Chagossian people.
