Donald Trump has publicly urged the UK government to reconsider its proposed agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, prompting a temporary pause in Westminster.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to delay reintroducing the Chagos legislation to Parliament after the former US president strongly criticized the proposed handover particularly the future of Diego Garcia, a strategically vital military base in the Indian Ocean used by both the UK and the United States.
In a series of social media posts, Trump warned that leasing arrangements would not adequately protect Western security interests. He argued that giving up sovereignty over Diego Garcia would be a serious misstep and stressed the island’s importance in the event of escalating tensions with Iran. While reaffirming the longstanding US-UK alliance, he cautioned that strategic assets such as Diego Garcia could prove critical during international crises.
The Labour government has maintained that it is moving forward with negotiations following years of international legal and diplomatic pressure regarding Mauritius’ sovereignty claim. Ministers argue that a long-term leaseback arrangement would safeguard the continued operation of the military base while resolving the broader territorial dispute.
Meanwhile, tensions have intensified on the ground. Misley Mandarin, who describes himself as First Minister of a Chagossian government-in-exile, recently led a small group to land on one of the islands in a symbolic act of resettlement. Joined by supporters including former Conservative MP Adam Holloway, the group raised a Union Flag and declared their intention to assert what they describe as their right to return.
Shortly afterward, UK authorities issued eviction notices to those involved, warning of potential legal consequences if they refused to leave. Mandarin criticized the move, describing it as unjust given the long-standing displacement of Chagossians from the islands decades ago.
The situation has drawn responses across the political spectrum. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage condemned the eviction notices and called for recognition of the Chagossians’ right to self-determination.
With international legal considerations, national security concerns, and competing political pressures all converging, the future of the Chagos Islands agreement remains uncertain as the UK government weighs its next steps.
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