The UK government is vigorously defending its controversial agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius despite mounting criticism from US President Donald Trump and opposition within Parliament. Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty asserted the government “remains confident” the arrangement represents the “best way forward” while accusing Conservative peers of employing “parliamentary stunts” to sabotage the legislation.
The diplomatic tension escalated dramatically last week when President Trump denounced the agreement as a “great act of stupidity,” despite his administration having previously accepted the terms. The criticism has injected new complexity into the already contentious parliamentary process, where the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill is currently engaged in legislative ‘ping-pong’ between the House of Commons and Lords.
Conservative opposition, led by shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel, has seized on Trump’s comments to demand a pause in proceedings, labeling the government’s approach as “Labour’s Chagos surrender humiliation.” The opposition contends that proceeding with the current legislation would violate a 1966 UK-US treaty governing the islands and has demanded renegotiation with American authorities before further parliamentary consideration.
At the heart of the agreement lies the future of Diego Garcia, which hosts a strategically critical joint US-UK military base. Under the proposed terms, the UK would transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while paying approximately £101 million annually for 99 years to lease back the military installation—a arrangement Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer estimates will have a net cost of £3.4 billion after accounting for inflation.
The government maintains that international legal rulings favoring Mauritius’ claim have necessitated the sovereignty transfer, while simultaneously emphasizing the commitment to preserve the military base’s operational security. Doughty confirmed ongoing daily engagement with US officials regarding national security matters and outlined prerequisites for ratification, including updating the 1966 agreement and implementing environmental and security arrangements.
Parliamentary dissent has emerged from multiple fronts, with Labour MP Dan Carden questioning the abandonment of sovereignty and Liberal Democrats proposing amendments to pause proceedings until US positioning is clarified. The government has postponed further Lords debate following Conservative amendments citing “changing geopolitical circumstances,” setting the stage for continued political confrontation over this strategically significant territory.