The British government announced yesterday that it has suspended its agreement to cede sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, which house the joint British-American airbase 'Diego Garcia'. The agreement, which faced criticism from US President Donald Trump, will not be included in the government's upcoming parliamentary agenda, according to 'The Times'. The office of Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that London will attempt to persuade Washington to grant official approval for the deal to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius. In February 2026, Trump called the agreement a 'grave mistake,' though he had previously stated it was the best deal Starmer could get. Under the agreement, the UK will retain control over the strategically important military base at 'Diego Garcia' through a 99-year lease, maintaining US operations there. A UK government spokesperson emphasized that ensuring the long-term operational security of the base remains a priority. They added: 'We still believe the agreement is the best way to secure the base's future long-term, but we reiterate that we will not proceed without US support. We are in continued communication with Washington and Mauritius.' The alliance between Washington and London has been strained in recent weeks due to Starmer's reluctance to participate in the US war against Iran and his initial refusal to allow Trump to use British airbases for attacks.
