Starmer says talks with US over Chagos deal are ongoing

The UK prime minister has confirmed sustained diplomatic contact with the United States as ministers try to salvage a sensitive arrangement that would transfer sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago while preserving allied access to the Diego Garcia military site. What began as a negotiated settlement to resolve long-standing legal and political disputes now faces renewed uncertainty after senior US figures publicly expressed opposition, prompting concern in Whitehall about whether Washington will continue to endorse the deal. British officials emphasize that the arrangement is intended to secure continued allied operations in the Indian Ocean, but opponents argue it creates strategic risks because of Mauritius’s external relationships and because the US might assert influence over the outcome. The situation has been complicated by mixed signals from the US executive branch, with high-profile criticisms delivered through social media and statements by senior officials that undermine prior endorsements. Downing Street reported prior US consent after a formal review window, yet subsequent remarks from Washington have forced UK ministers to refrain from repeating earlier assurances. Officials note there has been no formal revocation from the US but acknowledge an apprehension inside government that an explicit change of position could materialize and would need rapid management. Parliamentary scrutiny has intensified as MPs seek clarity on whether a mid-20th-century agreement between the UK and the US requires amendment to accommodate the proposed transfer and continued access arrangements. Legal and technical advisers within the Foreign Office are reported to be assessing the interplay between existing bilateral instruments and the new deal to determine whether treaty updates would create veto-like privileges or simply procedural steps. Opposition parties have mobilised diplomatic channels, contacting both Washington and other stakeholders to press their case and signal domestic resistance to the current form of the settlement. The lease terms under negotiation, including a long-duration access arrangement for the base and a substantial annual payment, remain central variables shaping the political calculus on both sides of the Atlantic. If the US withdraws or imposes conditions, London would face a difficult choice between renegotiating with Mauritius, altering force posture in the region, or abandoning the settlement altogether. The episode underscores how bilateral security arrangements are vulnerable to interpersonal politics and intra-administration divergences, and how strategic partnerships can be tested as domestic political actors seek to influence foreign policy outcomes. For now, ministers say daily engagement with US counterparts continues while the UK prepares to return the paperwork to Parliament for further examination and debate.