UK to review Chagos Islands deal over lack of US support, Streeting tells BBC
AI summary
The United Kingdom is reviewing its controversial agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius due to a lack of support from the United States. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed the review following comments from US President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly criticising the arrangement as terrible. The initial pact, agreed under former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, aimed to cede the archipelago while leasing back the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia for an average of £101 million annually. Prime Minister Andy Burnham discussed the matter with Trump in New York, emphasizing the need to safeguard the strategic base for security reasons. While the UK government insists this does not mark a major shift from previous stances, officials acknowledge the current terms will not secure American backing. Consequently, no funds are being disbursed to Mauritius during the ongoing reassessment, drawing mixed reactions from political figures including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.