Britain’s deal to hand over Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been canceled after criticism donald trump. The legislation, which will be key to taking the agreement forward, is not expected to be included in the government’s upcoming legislative plans.
£35bn deal includes plans to lease back UK-US military base diego garcia – The largest island in the remote Indian Ocean archipelago. The White House hailed the agreement as a “monumental achievement”, but Mr Trump later described it as a “great act of stupidity”.
conservative leader Kemi Badenoch He said the deal should now find its “rightful place – on the ash heap of history”.
The Times first reported that the Diego Garcia military base and British Indian Ocean Territories bill will not feature in May’s King’s Speech, which sets the agenda for the next session of Parliament.
A government source told the Times that the agreement “is the best way to protect the long-term future of the base,” but that they would not move forward without Mr. Trump’s support.
The Republican president, who had supported the plan, called the deal an “act of great stupidity” in a post on his Truth social platform in January.
after criticism of the deal As for “complete weakness”, Mr Trump then reversed his position and said it was the “best” deal Sir Keir could make before again withdrawing support.
Mr Trump has also repeatedly criticized Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during the conflict in the Middle East. The White House accused Britain and NATO allies of turning their backs on the American people during the Iran war.
Mrs Badenoch said: “If Keir Starmer’s Chagos surrender now finds its rightful place – on the ash heap of history – it will be because the Conservatives led the fight against it from day one.
“For it to take so long is another damning indictment of a Prime Minister who fought to hand over British sovereign territory and pay £35bn to use a vital military base that was already ours.”
In February, there was confusion over whether the bill was going ahead, with Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer telling the Commons that the deal had been “put on hold”, although government officials later said he had misspoke.
The legislation enabling the handover has not been presented to Parliament since January 20, despite being in its final stages.
The government has argued that the deal is necessary to guarantee the future of the Diego Garcia base after an advisory international court ruling in 2019 supported Mauritius’s claims to sovereignty over the islands.
