UK Government Halts Chagos Transfer After Admitting Trump Holds Legal Power to Block Deal
The UK government paused its plan to give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on Friday, officials admitted that United States President Donald Trump effectively controls the agreement's fate due to a historic defense treaty.
1966 Defense Treaty Mandates US Approval for Sovereignty Changes
A sixty-year-old military agreement creates the current diplomatic standoff, the 1966 pact between Britain and America explicitly states the territory must remain under UK control to support the Diego Garcia base. Treaty No. 8737 mandates that the islands serve defense purposes indefinitely, this contract legally binds London to seek American approval before altering sovereignty. While international courts declared British occupation illegal in 2019 after the forced expulsion of 2,000 Chagossians, the bilateral defense contract remains in force today, this legal reality forces London to secure Washington's formal consent before changing borders. Previous negotiations aimed to transfer ownership while leasing the base back, however recent political shifts in the US have complicated this arrangement significantly.
Legislation Withdrawn as Trump Reverses Position on Island Handover
Officials removed the implementing bill from the House of Lords agenda on Friday, this decision followed confirmation that the American executive branch must sign off on any treaty amendments. Legal experts warned the government that the 1966 text grants the US President a functional veto, President Trump must personally agree to modify the defense pact or the UK faces a breach of contract.
Although Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially signaled openness to the deal in 2025, Trump recently reversed this stance and called the handover "stupidity," he explicitly linked his opposition to broader territorial strategies involving Greenland. The Labour administration admitted that proceeding without a US signature violates international obligations, consequently the planned handover to Mauritius remains frozen until diplomatic alignments change.
Strategic Alliance Strained by Security Concerns and Financial Stakes
The collapse of this agreement threatens the "special relationship" between London and Washington, critics argue that handing sovereignty to Mauritius could allow China to establish surveillance posts near critical American military assets. Opposition leaders claim stopping the deal saves taxpayers up to £35 billion in proposed lease payments, meanwhile the UK remains in violation of United Nations resolutions demanding decolonization. The situation leaves the Chagos Archipelago in a unique legal limbo, the strategic value of the base currently outweighs international pressure to decolonize.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a difficult choice between defying a key ally or ignoring international courts, the deal currently appears stalled indefinitely unless substantial concessions persuade the American leadership.
