UK Reopens £3.4 Billion Chagos Deal Review as Trump Renews Attack
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 23
UK Reopens £3.4 Billion Chagos Deal Review as Trump Renews Attack
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 23
Summary
Wes Streeting said Britain is re-examining the Chagos Islands handover after Donald Trump again called the agreement “terrible” at the UN and made clear US backing had not returned.
The 2025 deal would transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while letting the UK and US lease back Diego Garcia for 99 years at an average £101 million a year, with officials valuing it at £3.4 billion.
Streeting said no money will go to Mauritius during the review and that talks now aim to secure a version Washington can support while preserving long-term certainty for the Diego Garcia base.
The agreement had already been paused indefinitely in April after Trump withdrew support, leaving legislation to complete the handover still short of parliamentary passage.
Opponents including Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to scrap the deal entirely, while Burnham said he still wants a resolution that safeguards the base.