The future of a territorial agreement involving the Chagos Islands has become uncertain following opposition from the US president. The arrangement, which had previously been signed by the UK and Mauritius, would transfer sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while allowing the UK and US to maintain operational control of the military base on Diego Garcia through a 99-year lease. Financial compensation was structured to provide Mauritius with £165m over an initial three-year period, followed by £120m annually beginning in the fourth year.
The plan encountered a significant obstacle when the US president declared his opposition during a bilateral meeting at the UN general assembly. He characterized the arrangement as fundamentally flawed, citing concerns that Mauritius was being granted sovereignty over territory it had not previously claimed or controlled. His position represents a reversal from earlier US support for the initiative. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed that the financial payments to Mauritius cannot proceed without securing American backing for the overall agreement.
The UK Prime Minister indicated optimism about finding an alternative approach, emphasizing that the government remains committed to resolving the matter through diplomatic channels. However, government officials acknowledged the substantial difficulty in moving forward absent a shift in the president’s stated objections. The core disagreement centers on the transfer of sovereignty itself, which presents a fundamental obstacle to adaptation. Officials noted that multiple previous administrations and diplomatic teams had attempted to resolve this issue, underscoring both its complexity and strategic importance.
The base on Diego Garcia holds significant strategic value for UK and US national security interests. Officials emphasized that inaction or avoidance of the underlying dispute would be counterproductive given the sensitive nature of the military installation and ongoing Mauritian assertions of territorial claims. The UK government intends to continue pursuing a diplomatic solution, though current momentum has effectively halted pending developments in US positions.
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