UK Government Scrambles to Clarify Chagos Islands Position After Ministerial Confusion
The British government has moved swiftly to deny reports that the planned handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been paused, despite a Foreign Office minister telling Parliament exactly that during a heated exchange. Officials have stated that Minister Hamish Falconer "misspoke" when he indicated the process was being delayed for discussions with American counterparts.
Minister's Comments Spark Immediate Controversy
During an urgent question session in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer told MPs: "We have a process going through parliament in relation to the treaty. We will bring that back to parliament at the appropriate time. We are pausing for discussions with our American counterparts." These comments came in response to questioning from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who has been vocal in his opposition to the sovereignty transfer.
Within hours, Foreign Office sources were briefing that Falconer had made an error in his statement. A government spokesperson clarified: "There is no pause. We have never set a deadline. Timings will be announced in the usual way." This rapid correction highlights the sensitivity surrounding the controversial agreement.
Trump's Intervention Adds Diplomatic Pressure
The confusion comes as the deal faces mounting pressure from multiple directions, most notably from former US President Donald Trump. In a February 18 post on Truth Social, Trump declared that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was "making a big mistake" by proceeding with the handover. This marked a significant shift from Trump's previous position, where he had described the arrangement as the "best" deal Starmer could negotiate under the circumstances.
Minister Falconer acknowledged Trump's changed stance during the parliamentary session, telling MPs: "The view of the United States president may well have changed but the treaty has not." The agreement would transfer sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius while allowing the UK and US to continue operating their strategic military airbase on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain.
Political Opposition Intensifies on Both Sides of Atlantic
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel, who is currently in Washington lobbying against the deal, immediately seized on Falconer's original comments. She described the proposed handover as "an appalling act of betrayal" and stated: "I am in Washington lobbying senior administration figures on this issue and I am pleased the UK government has been forced to pause the legislation. But ministers must go further: now it is time for Keir Starmer to face reality and kill this shameful surrender once and for all before it does any more damage."
The legislation cleared its third reading in the Commons last month, and members of the House of Lords had been informally told it would reach their chamber this week. However, these plans appear to have been reconsidered following Trump's public intervention.
Farage's Humanitarian Mission Adds Another Layer
Nigel Farage used his urgent question to force the issue onto the parliamentary agenda after claiming the British government had obstructed his planned humanitarian mission to the Chagos Islands. The Reform UK leader said he had traveled to the Maldives to join a delegation bringing aid to four Chagossians attempting to establish a settlement on one of the archipelago's islands as a protest against the sovereignty transfer.
In a video posted on social media platform X on Saturday, Farage alleged: "The British government are applying pressure on the president and the government of the Maldives to do everything within their power to stop me getting on that boat and going to the Chagos Islands." Entry to the territory requires a valid permit, adding another dimension to the ongoing diplomatic tensions surrounding the islands' future.
The Chagos Islands have been a point of international contention for decades, with Mauritius claiming sovereignty over the archipelago and the International Court of Justice ruling in 2019 that the UK should end its administration. The current agreement represents an attempt to resolve this longstanding dispute while preserving Western military interests in the strategically vital Indian Ocean location.
