London: The United Kingdom has officially confirmed that the proposed agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been paused.

The decision comes after a reported change in the position of US President Donald Trump regarding the deal in recent weeks.

The agreement was linked to long-term arrangements for the joint UK–US military base at Diego Garcia, located in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Diego Garcia base at the centre of the dispute

The Chagos Islands archipelago includes around 60 islands, with Diego Garcia being the most strategically significant. The base is widely considered a key asset for military and security operations in the Indo-Pacific region.

Under the earlier framework, the UK would have transferred sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while continuing to lease back the Diego Garcia base for 99 years, ensuring continued US–UK military presence.

UK Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty informed the House of Commons that the agreement cannot move forward without US support. He said American backing had earlier appeared stable, but recent developments have made political approval difficult at this stage.

The government maintains that the deal was designed to secure long-term operational stability for the military base while also addressing Mauritius’s sovereignty claims.

The US political shift impacts the agreement

The US had previously supported the arrangement, with senior officials describing it as a “historic agreement” ensuring continued operation of the base. However, Trump has in recent months publicly criticised aspects of the deal, calling it an “act of total weakness” in earlier remarks.

This shift has created uncertainty over the treaty’s implementation and delayed final ratification.

The Chagos Islands were historically linked to Mauritius during colonial rule before being separated under British administration. Mauritius has long claimed sovereignty over the archipelago following its independence in 1968.

The UK and Mauritius reached an agreement last year intended to resolve the dispute, but it has now stalled due to geopolitical and defence considerations.

UK officials have said they will continue discussions with the United States and Mauritius to find a workable path forward. However, with the agreement currently paused, the future of the handover remains uncertain and dependent on renewed diplomatic alignment between key stakeholders.