April 11, 2026, 1:38 p.mApril 11, 2026, 1:38 p.m
According to media reports, Great Britain has put the planned return of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on hold due to a lack of support from the USA. US President Donald Trump had repeatedly criticized the agreement, especially with regard to the strategically important island of Diego Garcia, which is home to a military base used by the British and the US.
The strategically important island of Diego Garcia is one of the Chagos Islands.Image: keystone
“We continue to believe that the agreement is the best way to secure the long-term future of the base, but we have always emphasized that we will only conclude the agreement with the support of the USA,” a government spokesman said, according to British media. London continues to communicate with the USA and Mauritius.
According to reports, representatives of the British government do not want to give up the deal, but the necessary legislation can no longer be passed before the upcoming parliamentary recess. The USA has not formally confirmed its consent, the BBC reported. A new draft law is not expected, writes the newspaper “The Times”, citing government representatives.
Issue Diego Garcia
The deal, which has now been put on hold, stipulates that the largest and strategically important island of Diego Garcia will remain under British control for at least 99 years, despite Mauritius’ sovereignty. The British are paying billions for this. After initially supporting the deal, Trump criticized it several times and described it as an “act of great stupidity” during the conflict with the NATO states over Greenland.
Relations between Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have recently deteriorated. Trump accuses Great Britain and other NATO states of not supporting the USA enough in the Iran war. Iran recently fired two ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, but the military base was not hit. (dab/sda/dpa)
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