Chagos Islands deal chaos as UK government sends contradictory signals

The Chagos Islands deal fell into disarray on Wednesday over conflicting messages from the UK government over whether to pause approval of talks with the US over the strategic military base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Foreign Minister Hamish Falconer had told members of Parliament that ratification of the agreement to hand over the islands to Mauritius had been paused while talks with Washington continued.

A UK government spokesman later denied the process had been formally suspended, insisting no deadline had been set and reiterating that Britain would not proceed without American support.

“We continue our discussions with the United States and have been clear that we will not move forward without their support,” the spokesman told Reuters. reported.

The confusion led critics to argue that the deal exposed weaknesses that could affect the West’s security amid rising tensions.

“The United States saw this firsthand when the United Kingdom warned Mauritius of an impending operation against Iran, a warning that Mauritius later protested,” said Robert Midgley.poke person for Friends of British Overseas Territories, he told Fox News Digital.

“This is what motivated the president.” [Donald] Trump’s statement,” Midgley said after Trump initially supported the deal but openly criticized it.

Trump reignited the debate by urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to abandon the deal in a post on Truth Social on February 18.

“DON’T GIVE DIEGO GARCIA!” Trump called the agreement a “big mistake” and wrote that it added burden to transatlantic negotiations.

STARMER SENDS UK Strike Group TO ARCTIC, TRUMP SAYS RUSSIA THREAT INCREASING AS GREENLAND DEAL FORWARDS

The deal will see Britain cede sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius and secure a 99-year lease on the strategically vital island of Diego Garcia, home to a joint US-UK military base. (Planet Laboratories PBC)

Midgley argued that the agreement should be “withdrawn” in line with Trump’s wishes.

“The British government must now go one step further and withdraw the bill from Parliament and find an alternative solution,” he said.

“Ministers mistakenly revealed that the deal had no legal basis and risked creating a world more insecure vis-à-vis states such as China and Iran,” he added.

The deal, signed last year, sees Britain hand over sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius and secure a 99-year lease on the strategically vital Diego Garcia island, home to a joint US-UK military base.

The base plays a central role in operations in the Middle East, Africa and the Indo-Pacific; This means the proposal faces increasing political pressure on both sides of the Atlantic.

TRUMP SIGNALED HIS WILLINGNESS TO DEFEND DIEGO GARCIA MILITARY BASE WHEN FUTURE DEAL THREATENS ACCESS TO THE US

President Trump urged Britain not to give away Diego Garcia. (Reuters Photos)

The legislation is currently before the House of Lords, where objections are being made. The fact that no date has yet been set for debate or voting further increases the uncertainty.

Midgley urged Washington to continue resisting the agreement and support Britain retaining control of the region.

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“The United States must stand firm, continue to reject the deal and support Britain’s assertion of sovereignty to help safeguard the future of the West’s security,” he warned.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the UK government for comment.

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