UK Suspends Chagos Islands Transfer After US Policy Shift
The UK suspended its Chagos Islands transfer to Mauritius on April 11, 2026, citing lost US support.
Why it matters: The suspension escalates legal and geopolitical stakes for the longstanding Anglo-Mauritian dispute, hinders restitution for displaced Chagossians, and prolongs uncertainty over the critical US–UK military base of Diego Garcia. Legal professionals focused on sovereignty, international law, and military agreements will be tracking next steps closely.
- On April 11, 2026, the UK halted plans to transfer Chagos sovereignty to Mauritius due to US policy reversal.
- The UK–Mauritius agreement included a 99-year lease for Diego Garcia, a major UK–US military base, and payments of £101 million per year.
- President Trump withdrew US support in January 2026, labeling the deal a strategic error.
- Roughly 10,000 displaced Chagossians and their descendants remain in limbo, lacking legal clarity on right of return.
The UK government announced on April 11, 2026, an indefinite suspension of its deal to transfer control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after the United States ended support for the move. The change follows US President Donald Trump's January 2026 statement calling the transfer a strategic mistake, and a subsequent shift in US foreign policy regarding the Indian Ocean territory.
The Chagos Archipelago, held by the UK since 1814, is home to the vital US–UK military base at Diego Garcia. The May 2025 transfer agreement between the UK and Mauritius provided for a 99-year lease to maintain base operations, with the UK to pay Mauritius £101 million annually. The plan was intended to resolve disputes over sovereignty and open the door for the possible return of Chagossian families displaced in the late 20th century.
However, the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office stated that parliamentary approval could not be secured after the US policy change. Foreign Secretary James Ellis confirmed, "Britain remains committed to the operational security of Diego Garcia, which is central to allied interests in the region."
Approximately 10,000 Chagossians and their descendants, residing mainly in Britain, Mauritius, and the Seychelles, remain in legal limbo on residency rights and restitution. Their claims gained momentum after the International Court of Justice's 2019 advisory opinion, which urged the UK to end its administration of the territory "as rapidly as possible." The UK’s pause on transfer sidesteps this UN-backed finding and leaves future legal action a possibility.
Analysts note the suspension raises new questions about the balance of international law, sovereignty, and military necessity in contested territories. The Chagos case continues to serve as a high-profile test for legal norms within global territorial disputes (Lawfare Blog).
By the numbers:
- £101 million — Annual payment by UK to Mauritius as part of the suspended transfer deal
- 99 years — Length of lease for Diego Garcia granted in the planned handover
- ~10,000 — Chagossians and descendants affected by continued uncertainty