Britain suspends agreement on transfer of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

Great Britain has suspended the advancement of an agreement to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius after US President Donald Trump opposed the arrangement. This is reported by UNN with reference to BBC.

Details

The British government confirmed that the bill necessary to implement the agreement would not be passed before the end of the current parliamentary session.

What the agreement entailed

A political agreement between London and Port Louis was announced on October 3, 2024. It stipulated that Great Britain would recognize Mauritius' sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia Island. At the same time, it was envisaged that the joint British-American military base on Diego Garcia would continue to operate on the basis of a long-term lease.

Why the Chagos issue is sensitive

The issue of the Chagos Archipelago has been the subject of international disputes for many years. In 2019, the International Court of Justice concluded that the decolonization process of Mauritius was not legally completed after the separation of the archipelago, and the UN General Assembly called on Great Britain to end its administration of these territories. These international legal decisions were one of the arguments in favor of concluding the agreement.

Why the agreement was suspended

According to AP and Reuters, the decisive factor was Washington's change of position. While Trump had previously signaled support for the agreement, he later called it a mistake. London emphasized that from the outset it was ready to move forward only with US support, given the strategic importance of the base on Diego Garcia for British and American security.

What to expect in the future

As of April 2026, the agreement has not been definitively canceled, but its implementation has been effectively frozen indefinitely. The British government states that it continues contacts with the US and Mauritius and still considers this agreement the best way to ensure the long-term future of the base. At the same time, AP notes that the return of the bill to parliament is not expected in the near future.

Recall

In January 2026, US leader Donald Trump criticized Great Britain's decision to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling it a "great folly." He linked this to ambitions regarding Greenland and called on Denmark to "do the right thing."