Britain has moved quickly to clarify its position on the future of the Chagos Islands after mixed messages from the government suggested the ratification of a controversial sovereignty deal had

been put on hold.

On Wednesday, officials said there was no pause in the process to ratify an agreement that would see the UK hand sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, following earlier comments by a foreign office minister that indicated talks with Washington had temporarily halted progress.

A government spokesperson later corrected the record, stressing that no formal delay had been announced.

“There is no pause. We have never set a deadline. Timings will be announced in the usual way,” the spokesperson said.

The Chagos Archipelago, located in the Indian Ocean, is home to Diego Garcia, a strategically vital military base operated jointly by the UK and the United States. Under the proposed deal, Britain would transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while retaining control of Diego Garcia through a 99-year lease, ensuring the continuation of US military operations.

The agreement was reached last year under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, but it has since attracted renewed scrutiny from Washington. Former US president Donald Trump last week criticised the arrangement, warning that Britain was making a “big mistake” by proceeding.

In the UK, the legislation required to ratify the deal is currently before the House of Lords, where several peers have raised objections. A date for a full debate and vote has yet to be scheduled, adding to uncertainty around the timetable.

Despite the political noise on both sides of the Atlantic, the government insists discussions with the United States are ongoing and that no final steps will be taken without US backing for the future of the base on Diego Garcia. Photo by Anne Sheppard, Wikimedia commons.