UK reviews Chagos Islands deal after Trump calls it terrible
Prime Minister Andy Burnham agreed to review the sovereignty transfer to Mauritius following criticism from the US President during their first meeting.
KEY POINTS
- UK reviewing Chagos Islands sovereignty deal after Trump criticism
- Deal would transfer islands to Mauritius but lease back Diego Garcia base
- Defence Secretary confirms plans on hold pending US support
- Conservatives accuse PM of multiple position changes in 24 hours
- Legal uncertainty over strategic base could last years
The UK government is reviewing the Chagos Islands agreement with Mauritius after US President Donald Trump described the deal as "terrible" during his first meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The treaty, signed in May 2025, would transfer full sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while the UK retains a lease on the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed the plans are on hold because any agreement requires American support. British officials say it is unclear how the deal can be reworked given the conflicting interests of Washington and Mauritius, potentially leaving the base in legal limbo for years.
“Any agreement needs to have the support of the Americans”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Burnham of holding three different positions on the issue within 24 hours and urged him to scrap the agreement entirely. Streeting denied the government is adopting an "ostrich strategy" of simply waiting for a new US president, noting Trump's term runs until January 2029.
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