Reports suggest that Donald Trump could derail the UK’s plan to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius by invoking a long-standing 1966 defense treaty between Britain and the United States. According to sources familiar with the situation, White House officials are actively encouraging Trump to block the move.
The British government’s proposed Chagos agreement is now on shaky ground because it cannot proceed without U.S. approval. The 1966 treaty establishes British sovereignty over the islands and guarantees their availability to both countries for defense purposes. Any attempt to alter that arrangement would require Washington’s consent, effectively giving the U.S. president veto power over the deal.
Last week, Trump publicly condemned the proposal, calling it “an act of great stupidity,” a remark that delivered a serious political setback for the UK government. Since then, it has emerged that senior figures inside the White House are advising him to refuse any changes to the treaty, which would halt the handover entirely.
This development has thrown Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s plan into turmoil. The Conservative Party has seized on the treaty issue, arguing that the proposed transfer directly conflicts with the UK’s longstanding defense obligations to the United States. The pressure became so intense that Labour leaders withdrew the bill from the House of Lords ahead of a scheduled debate, forcing government lawyers to reassess the legislation and re-examine the treaty’s legal implications.
A letter obtained by The Daily Telegraph revealed growing alarm within government circles. Senior ministers reportedly acknowledged that the agreement cannot move forward unless the U.S. agrees to fundamentally rewrite its six-decade-old defense pact with the UK.
This is just the latest obstacle facing the controversial proposal, which would see Britain transfer sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while paying billions to lease back the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base. According to sources, the White House is unlikely to accept Mauritian sovereignty, particularly amid concerns about regional security and geopolitical alignment.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said her party had engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions with Republican figures in the U.S. to underline what they view as serious national security risks. She argued that the Chagos plan represents one of several recent government reversals and warned that it could cost taxpayers tens of billions of pounds while handing over strategically important territory to a country perceived as close to China.
There are also reports that Nigel Farage encouraged U.S. officials to oppose the agreement.
Despite the mounting criticism, the UK government insists it remains committed to securing the future of the joint UK-U.S. base on Diego Garcia. A government spokesperson defended the plan, stressing the base’s importance to national security and accusing critics in the House of Lords of acting irresponsibly.
With U.S. opposition hardening and legal uncertainty growing, the future of the Chagos Islands agreement now appears far from settled.
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