In a surprising turn of events, the UK government has decided to postpone the debate in the House of Lords on the Chagos Islands deal with Mauritius. The legislation, which would see the archipelago in the Indian Ocean handed over to Mauritius with the UK leasing back a key military base for £101 million per year, was set to be discussed on Monday.
However, late on Friday, the Conservatives – who have long opposed the deal – tabled an amendment calling for a pause “in light of the changing geopolitical circumstances”. The government has now decided to delay the upcoming debate, stating that the bill will return to the House of Lords at an unspecified later date.
A government spokesperson said, “The government remains fully committed to the deal to secure the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia, which is vital for our national security.” They criticised the “irresponsible and reckless behaviour” of the peers, arguing that their role is to “check legislation, not interfere with our national security priorities.”
The delay comes as a surprise, given that the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill was in the later stages of parliamentary scrutiny, a process known as “ping pong” where it bounces back and forth between the House of Commons and House of Lords as they attempt to amend elements of it.
The Conservatives claim that passing the bill would put the UK in contravention of a 1966 Treaty agreed with the US over the islands and therefore in breach of international law. They have called on ministers to ensure an agreement is reached with the US over the 1966 Treaty before the bill returns to the House of Lords.
Under the proposed new Chagos deal with Mauritius, the UK would lease back Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands and home to a shared UK-US military base, for an initial period of 99 years. The agreement would see Mauritius gain sovereignty over the islands, while allowing the US and UK to continue operating the military base.
Last May, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK had to “act now” or face Mauritian legal action that could interfere with the Diego Garcia base. He argued that “if we did not agree this deal the legal situation would mean that we would not be able to prevent China or any other nation setting up their own bases on the outer islands or carrying out joint exercises near our base.”
The delay to the bill’s parliamentary journey comes in the same week that US President Donald Trump appeared to have a change of heart over the agreement. On Tuesday, Trump described the agreement as a “great act of stupidity” – despite his administration having previously been content with the terms.
This unexpected development poses significant strategic questions for Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition, who had signed off on the deal last May while serving as Labour leader.
