Britain has paused payments to Mauritius and is reviewing its agreement to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands after the United States withheld support for the deal.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the agreement, which includes continued British and American access to the military base on Diego Garcia, cannot proceed in its current form without US backing. The comments followed US President Donald Trump’s renewed criticism of the arrangement during his meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Trump described the agreement as a “terrible” deal.
Under the agreement reached last year, Britain would transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining control of the strategically important Diego Garcia base through a 99-year lease. Mauritius was due to receive £165 million over the first three years and at least £120 million annually thereafter
Streeting confirmed that the annual payments will not be made “at this stage” while the government works with Mauritius and the United States to address concerns surrounding the treaty.
He said securing the long-term future of Diego Garcia remains central to the negotiations, while acknowledging that reaching a revised agreement could require extensive diplomatic work.
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