UK Forced to Shelve Law to Return Chagos Islands to Mauritius

The United Kingdom government has been forced to delay its proposed legislation to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after losing crucial backing from the United States.

Officials confirmed that there is no longer enough time to pass the bill before the current parliamentary session ends, effectively putting the plan on hold for now. The move marks a significant setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose government had been working toward finalizing the agreement.

US Support Collapse and Rising Tensions

The situation has been further complicated by deteriorating relations between London and Washington. Donald Trump has strongly criticized the proposed deal, warning that handing control of the islands to Mauritius would be a “big mistake.”

Although the agreement had previously received support from US officials—and even tentative approval from Trump—his stance shifted in recent months. Reports suggest the reversal came after the UK refused to allow American forces to use British bases for a pre-emptive strike on Iran.

Strategic Importance of Diego Garcia

Under the proposed deal, Britain would transfer sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while leasing back Diego Garcia for 99 years. The island hosts a key joint US-UK military base, making it strategically vital for operations in the Indian Ocean and beyond.

However, the agreement required formal amendments to a longstanding 1966 UK-US treaty. The absence of official confirmation from Washington has prevented progress, ultimately forcing the UK to abandon its legislative timeline.

Political and Diplomatic Fallout

The planned legislation is now unlikely to appear in the upcoming King’s Speech, where the government outlines its priorities for the next parliamentary session.

Tensions escalated further after Iran launched a strike on the Diego Garcia base following US military actions linked to British facilities. While Starmer permitted the use of UK bases for defensive missions, he faced increasing pressure to restrict American access amid growing regional instability.

What Comes Next?

Despite the setback, UK officials insist the process has not been permanently abandoned. The Foreign Office has stated that there is no fixed deadline and that further developments will be announced in due course.

For now, however, the future of the Chagos Islands deal remains uncertain, hinging largely on whether the UK can regain US support and stabilize diplomatic relations.