Despite Trump's Criticism: London Confirms Commitment to the Chagos Agreement

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer assures that U.S. intelligence supports the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. However, parliamentary review has been postponed, and doubts remain regarding Washington's true position.

Starmer is striving to uphold the agreement on the Chagos Islands, despite Donald Trump's harsh criticisms and increasing signs of concern in Washington.

Speaking during his flight to Beijing, where he is on a visit, Starmer emphasized that U.S. intelligence agencies continue to back the agreement, contrary to President Trump's publicly stated position. "There was a three-month pause while his administration closely examined the agreement at the agency level, as it obviously pertains to security and intelligence," explained Starmer. He noted that they ultimately concluded it was an agreement they wished to support, and they did so in very clear terms.

Sources from Downing Street in Britain told The Guardian that the agreement, formally approved in May 2025, is a "done deal" that will not be challenged. They have not received any official signal from the U.S. State Department or intelligence agencies indicating a shift in position, despite Trump's rhetoric. These sources suggest that the apparent reversal from the American president may be linked to his attempts to acquire Greenland.

However, signs of tension have emerged. Last week, Trump referred to the ceding of the Chagos Islands as a "great stupidity" on social media. "The UK is currently planning to give up Diego Garcia, site of a vital U.S. military base, to Mauritius, and for no reason at all," he wrote, adding that this decision represents "an act of total weakness."

The Criticized Agreement

More worrying for the Foreign Office, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also criticized the agreement, accusing the UK of "letting us down." Since then, Downing Street has declined to reiterate its claim that the U.S. still supports the agreement.

The parliamentary review of the bill related to the transfer has been postponed in the House of Lords, with Downing Street explaining on Wednesday that this is due to ongoing discussions with the U.S.

The agreement, concluded in October 2024, involves the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while allowing the UK to retain a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia, where a joint British-American military base is located, at an estimated cost of £3.4 billion.

According to British officials, the agreement was reached under pressure from Washington, with U.S. authorities concerned about the fate of the base if Mauritius won its case at the International Court of Justice. The U.S. initially approved the agreement in May 2025, but a source involved in the negotiations claims that the Trump administration was "never enthusiastic" and simply decided to comply.

The agreement has also faced criticism from within the British Conservatives, who accuse the government of compromising national security due to Mauritius's close ties with China. China abstained during the UN vote, a key step in finalizing the agreement, and experts believe Beijing privately views this agreement as a setback for its national security interests. At the time of the agreement's conclusion, Starmer asserted that the UK had "secured the base for the long term" and that the agreement "was fought against by our adversaries," including China. However, the Conservatives accused the government of aligning itself with Beijing.