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The government’s planned legislation concerning the Chagos Islands will not be discussed in the House of Lords as was initially scheduled. This bill, which proposes transferring sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius while allowing the UK to retain a key military base through a lease costing £101 million annually, was set for debate on Monday in the Lords. However, the Conservative Party, which has historically opposed the agreement, introduced an amendment late Friday seeking to halt progress on the grounds of “changing geopolitical circumstances.”
As a result, the government has decided to postpone the debate, with intentions to bring the bill back to the Lords at an unspecified future date. A spokesperson for the government emphasized their ongoing dedication to securing the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, highlighting its importance for national security. The spokesperson criticized peers for their intervention, calling it “irresponsible and reckless behaviour” and underscoring that the role of the Lords is to scrutinize legislation rather than interfere with key security matters. Meanwhile, government insiders are exploring possible responses to prevent similar parliamentary tactics going forward. Currently, the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill remains in the “ping pong” phase of scrutiny, where amendments are exchanged between the Commons and Lords.
Conservative critics argue that advancing this bill would violate a 1966 treaty between the UK and the US, which explicitly states in Article 1 that “the territory shall remain under UK sovereignty.” They have urged ministers to secure formal agreement with the US regarding this treaty before further parliamentary consideration. According to the new deal with Mauritius, the UK will lease back Diego Garcia, the largest island, maintaining the UK-US military base presence. The agreement also establishes a 24-mile exclusion zone surrounding Diego Garcia, prohibiting construction without UK approval. Signed last May by Sir Keir Starmer, the arrangement transfers sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while guaranteeing the continuation of the military base operation for an initial period of 99 years. The government will pay Mauritius an average yearly sum of £101 million over the term, which Sir Keir described as equating to a “net cost” of £3.4 billion after considerations like inflation adjustments.
The Prime Minister previously stated the urgency of concluding the deal to avoid legal challenges from Mauritius that could jeopardize the Diego Garcia base. He remarked, “If we did not agree this deal the legal situation would mean that we would not be able to prevent China or any other nation setting up their own bases on the outer islands or carrying out joint exercises near our base. No responsible government could let that happen.” The bill’s delay has occurred amid shifting US responses; earlier this week, former US President Donald Trump labeled the agreement a “great act of stupidity,” despite his administration’s prior acceptance of the terms. Before the deal’s signing, the UK had offered the US an effective veto power due to security concerns. Allies of Trump had expressed criticism, yet during a meeting with Starmer in the Oval Office, Trump had acknowledged his inclination to support the UK’s position. Subsequent to the signing, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly welcomed the agreement, describing Diego Garcia as a “critical asset for regional and global security” and praising the deal’s contribution to the “long-term, stable, and effective operation” of the joint military facility
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