UK shelves Chagos Islands return after Trump opposition

UK shelves plan to return Chagos Islands to Mauritius following strong opposition from US President Donald Trump. The islands host the strategic Diego Garcia US-UK military base crucial for operations against Iran.

UK government spokesperson confirmed Saturday they would "only proceed with deal if it has US support" after Trump called London's agreement "great stupidity" in January. Legislation to return the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius had run out of time in parliament, with a new bill not expected soon.

Last May, UK agreed to hand sovereignty to Mauritius while maintaining 99-year lease on Diego Garcia base—estimated at £90 million ($111 million) annually. The deal followed 2019 International Court of Justice ruling recommending Britain return the islands after evicting thousands of Chagos islanders in the 1960s.

With UK-US relations at stake, what does this mean for Britain's colonial legacy and US military positioning in the Indian Ocean region?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/04/11/uk-to-shelve-chagos-handover/