UK Shelves Chagos Islands Deal After Trump Calls It 'Total Weakness'

The UK government has pulled back from a deal that would have transferred the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after facing strong opposition from President Donald Trump. The agreement was originally signed in May 2025 and initially welcomed by the US.

But in early 2026, Trump changed course and criticized the deal as an 'act of total weakness.' This forced Prime Minister Keir Starmer to withdraw the legislation that would have completed the handover.

The Chagos Islands include Diego Garcia, which hosts a crucial US military base used for operations across the Middle East and Asia. The original deal would have transferred sovereignty to Mauritius while keeping the military base operational.

UK officials say they haven't completely abandoned the agreement but have run out of time to pass it through Parliament. The deal will not be included in the King's Speech on May 13, which sets out the government's agenda for the coming year.

There are now concerns that Mauritius could mount a legal challenge to force the UK to complete the transfer. The government hopes it can still persuade Trump to support a revised version of the deal.