General · 11 April 2026
Starmer shelves Chagos deal after US support fails
The UK has suspended its plan to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Prime Minister Starmer shelved the deal following President Trump's opposition and lack of US backing. Government officials cited insufficient parliamentary time before dissolution in mid-May. The stalled deal had proposed £101 million annually to lease the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs