Full Breakdown
UK Re-examines Chagos Islands Transfer After US President’s Opposition
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Review of the Chagos Deal
On 22 September 2026, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC that Britain would “review” its agreement to hand sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius after U.S. President Donald Trump described the deal as “terrible” during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The original treaty, negotiated under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, would cede the islands while allowing the United Kingdom to retain a 99-year lease on the strategic military base on Diego Garcia. Streeting said the annual payments to Mauritius – at least £120 million according to some reports and about £101 million according to others – are on hold until U.S. support can be secured.
Background & Context
The dispute traces back to the 1960s, when Britain removed the Chagossian population to establish the Diego Garcia base. In 2019, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion that Britain’s de-colonisation of the islands was unlawful, bolstering Mauritius’s claim to sovereignty. The UK government argues that uncertainty over ownership could jeopardise the base’s long-term security.
Data & Statistics
- Lease term: 99 years, with an option to extend.
- Annual payment figures: £101 million (Reuters) or £120 million (The Guardian).
- Total value over the lease: approximately £3.4 billion.
- U.S. military presence: Diego Garcia hosts a joint UK-U.S. facility considered vital for Indian-Ocean security.
Official Statements & Responses
- Andy Burnham affirmed confidence that a resolution can be reached with U.S. partners and pledged to work with Mauritius’s foreign minister Navin Ramgoolam.
- Donald Trump reiterated his opposition, calling the arrangement “a terrible deal.”
- James Cartlidge, Conservative defence spokesman, said the agreement “should be binned entirely,” arguing the UK should not compromise its security interests.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact annual payment amount: Reuters cites £101 million, while The Guardian reports £120 million and notes an initial three-year tranche of £165 million. No official timetable has been published for the review, and the legislation required to enact the hand-over remains unpassed in Parliament.
Verbatim Quotes
- “And the ostrich strategy of sticking our heads in the sand … , I would caution is not a wise strategy when it concerns one of the most sensitive national security assets we have anywhere in the world,” — Jack Pannell, senior researcher, British Foreign Policy Group
What’s Next
Prime Minister Burnham indicated that foreign ministers from the United Kingdom and Mauritius will meet at the United Nations General Assembly to discuss a possible resolution. No fixed deadline has been set for the review, but Burnham stressed that securing “long-term certainty for the base” remains a priority for the UK’s security strategy.
