Wednesday, September 23, 2026 - Britain is set to revisit its agreement to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after President Donald Trump rejected the deal in its current form.
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said on September 23 that the government would work with Washington to modify the agreement and secure US backing. Trump described the arrangement as a “terrible deal” and said he did not support it.
The dispute centres on Diego Garcia, the strategically important island hosting a joint UK-US military base. Under the proposed agreement, Mauritius would gain sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago while Britain would retain access to the base through a long-term lease.
The agreement has been put on hold, with the UK government saying it cannot proceed without US support because of the base’s importance to British and American security.
The next stage will focus on negotiations involving Britain, the United States and Mauritius as the three sides seek a revised arrangement.
The UK government has not announced a fixed timetable for a formal review, but officials say the goal remains securing a deal that protects the future of Diego Garcia while addressing Mauritius’s position on sovereignty. The outcome could shape the future of one of the most strategically important military facilities in the Indian Ocean.
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