Chagos deal paused as UK eyes resettlement plan amid US opposition
Chagos deal paused as UK eyes resettlement plan amid US opposition
UK pauses Mauritius sovereignty talks over US opposition, weighing a resettlement option as Chagossians seek UN intervention and rights.
The UK government has paused the plan to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius amid opposition from the United States and domestic concerns, with officials quietly weighing alternatives behind the scenes. The pause comes as senior officials reassess how to move forward on the deal that would involve the UK ceding sovereignty while continuing access to the Diego Garcia base. The shift signals a potential rethink of a proposal that previously promised substantial financial terms and a lasting security arrangement for both nations.
One option being considered would allow Chagossians to resettle on the islands themselves, a move that would be a marked reversal from the prime minister’s push to finalise the treaty and deliver up to £51 billion to Mauritius in exchange for sovereignty. The idea would still hinge on complex legal and logistical questions, including displacement, resources, and governance for communities long denied a permanent home on the islands. The development comes as calls for UN involvement gain momentum among representatives of the Chagossians.
Chagossians’ legal advocates have filed with the United Nations, seeking intervention on grounds of crimes against humanity and naming Sir Keir Starmer personally in their submissions. The legal action follows a recent ruling by a British Indian Ocean Territory court that undermined earlier legislation by recognizing the islanders’ right of abode, intensifying legal challenges and complicating any legislative path to ratification.
Trump-era US opposition has loomed over the talks, with a current sense that without Washington’s backing the deal loses crucial political momentum. Officials acknowledge time is running out to pass any law before Parliament dissolves, and the uncertain support from key partners leaves the future of the islands in limbo. On the ground, Misley Mandarin, the first minister of the Chagos government in exile, continues to lead a small group occupying one of the islands, highlighting the human dimension at the heart of the dispute. The Diego Garcia base remains a central strategic consideration for both the UK and the US, heightening the stakes as negotiations stall.
