In a surprising turn of events, Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been delayed following a furious backlash from former US President Donald Trump. The legislation, set to be debated in the House of Lords on Monday, was postponed on Friday after the Conservatives warned that the deal could violate a 1966 treaty with the United States.
The Tories tabled a motion in the House of Lords on Friday morning to delay any ratification of the treaty, allowing for further discussions and avoiding potential breaches of international law, according to reports from The Telegraph. Conservative peer Daniel Hannan claimed that this delay secured “breathing space” and that if Trump doesn’t change his mind, “the deal is off,” describing it as “humiliating” for Britain that the final decision lies in the hands of the US.
The Chagos Islands deal would have seen the UK hand back sovereignty of the archipelago and lease back the Diego Garcia military base, which has been used by UK and US forces since the 1970s. Trump’s outburst came months after his administration had expressed support for the bill, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it a “monumental achievement” in May.
This latest development has further strained the relationship between Keir Starmer and the US president. On Monday, Starmer criticised Trump’s attempts to bring Greenland under US control, stating that alliances are built on “respect and partnership, not pressure.” Tensions escalated further on Friday when Trump said that NATO allies had “stayed a little back off the front line” when serving in Afghanistan, which Starmer described as “insulting and frankly appalling,” calling for an apology.
The ongoing diplomatic tensions between the UK and the US have cast uncertainty over the future of the Chagos Islands deal, with the Conservatives warning that proceeding with the plan could violate international law. As the two nations navigate these complex geopolitical waters, the fate of the Chagos Islands remains in limbo, with the final decision seemingly resting in the hands of the former US president.
