UK suspends return of Chagos Islands, 'lack of US support'

British Prime Minister Keir Starmerhas abandoned the agreement on the Chagos Islands due to deteriorating relations with Donald Trump, after the United States did not formally confirm its approval.

Downing Street announced. "We continue to believe that this agreement is the best way to protect the long-term future of the (Anglo-American) military base at Diego Garcia, but we have always said we would only move forward with US support," a Starmer spokesman said, adding that discussions with the US were ongoing. The restitution bill was due to expire in parliament.

Trump had urged Starmer to cancel the agreement, despite having previously expressed his support for the treaty.

In January, the US president had called the restitution plan an 'act of utter weakness'. British government officials, the BBC explains, said they did not want to completely abandon the agreement - which would transfer the sovereignty of the British territory to Mauritius - but that they ran out of time to pass the law before Parliament was dissolved in the coming weeks.

However, a new bill on the Chagos is not expected to be presented in the King's Speech in mid-May. Apparently, the British broadcaster adds, the UK has not yet received a formal exchange of letters from the US, a legal requirement for the treaty to enter into force. The islands host the importantAnglo-American military base of Diego Garcia.