World · 25 February 2026
UK government denies Chagos Islands deal is paused
The UK government denies any pause in its Chagos Islands deal, after a minister told MPs the process was "pausing" for US discussions. President Trump urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer not to "give away Diego Garcia," which houses the UK-US military base. This public statement came despite the US Department of State officially backing the UK's plan to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs