Arabic version: حكومة المملكة المتحدة توقف صفقة السيادة على جزر تشاغوس بعد انتقادات ترامب

The UK government has shelved its sovereignty deal concerning the Chagos Islands due to escalating tensions with former President Donald Trump, who has expressed opposition to the agreement. According to BBC News, Trump previously supported the treaty but later labeled it an “act of total weakness,” prompting the UK to reconsider its position.

Government officials have indicated that while the agreement is not completely abandoned, the timeline for passing the necessary legislation has run out as Parliament prepares to prorogue in the coming weeks. A new bill regarding the Chagos Islands is not anticipated to be presented in the upcoming King’s Speech scheduled for mid-May.

The proposed deal aimed to transfer sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, while the UK would pay an estimated annual cost of £101 million to lease back a military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago. A government spokesperson emphasized that Diego Garcia is a crucial military asset, and ensuring its operational security remains a priority.

The UK had been working to finalize legislation to formalize the Chagos deal, but time constraints have led to its suspension. Former Foreign Office permanent secretary Lord Simon McDonald noted that the UK had aimed to comply with international law and strengthen ties with the United States, but the current political climate necessitated a reevaluation of the treaty.

Criticism of the deal’s shelving has come from various political leaders, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. They argue that the decision reflects a commitment to national interests. In contrast, Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller described the handling of the deal as shambolic, attributing the instability to Trump’s unpredictable stance on international relations.