{"id":2573514,"date":"2026-02-25T12:23:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T17:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uk-minister-confirms-britain-is-pausing-passage-of-chagos-islands-deal-into-law\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T12:24:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T17:24:36","slug":"uk-minister-confirms-britain-is-pausing-passage-of-chagos-islands-deal-into-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uk-minister-confirms-britain-is-pausing-passage-of-chagos-islands-deal-into-law\/","title":{"rendered":"UK minister confirms Britain is &#8216;pausing&#8217; passage of Chagos Islands deal into law"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fuk-minister-confirms-britain-is-pausing-passage-of-chagos-islands-deal-into-law%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2573514&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>the UK government says it is pausing the transfer of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius to allow discussions with the United States, after Washington expressed deep concern about the future of Diego Garcia, the U.S.-run military base on the archipelago\u2019s largest island. Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer indicated the pause is to address U.S. concerns as Parliament processes the treaty.<\/p>\n<p>Key context includes: the government says there is ongoing dialogue with the United States and notes there was support from the U.S. administration for the treaty; President Donald Trump has fluctuated in his stance on the deal. The BBC later disputed the pause,saying there is no formal pause and that timings will be announced in the usual way. The piece also references political commentary from Nigel Farage about potential counterclaims by the Maldives and broader debates over the deal and its timing.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">UK foreign office minister confirms Britain is &lsquo;pausing&rsquo; passage of Chagos Islands deal into law<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2514258\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/united-kingdom\">United Kingdom<\/a> is pausing the planned secession of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following a rebuke from the Trump administration.<\/p>\n<p>Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer announced on Wednesday that the British government is &ldquo;pausing for discussions with our&nbsp;American counterparts&rdquo; after the United States <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4462231\/trump-diego-garcia-iran-attack-uk-lease\/\">expressed deep concern<\/a> for the future of Diego Garcia &mdash; a joint military base on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-approves-uk-plan-to-give-up-chagos-islands\/\" title=\"... approves UK plan to give up ...\">archipelago&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s largest island.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4471271\/narendra-modi-lands-israel-peak-iran-tensions-suggesting-strike-delay\/\">Narendra Modi lands in Israel during peak of Iran tensions, suggesting strike delay<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4470276\/us-jalisco-airports-secure-cartel-mexico\/\">US says Jalisco airports secure after clashes between cartels and Mexican forces<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4469781\/peter-mandelson-denies-baseless-claim-flee-uk-british-virgin-islands\/\">Peter Mandelson denies &#8216;baseless&#8217; claim of fleeing UK for British Virgin Islands<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;There was support from the U.S. administration for this treaty, which has not changed,&rdquo; Falconer said. &ldquo;There clearly has been a statement from the president of the United States more recently from the president, which is very significant.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People demonstrate outside the High Court in London, Thursday, May 22, 2025, after a British court blocked the U.K. from transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius hours before the agreement was due to be signed. (AP Photo\/Thomas Krych)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;We are now discussing those concerns with the United States directly,&rdquo; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/irish-police-will-be-given-power-to-demand-passwords-from-suspects\/\" title=\"Irish Police Will Be Given Power To Demand Passwords From Suspects\">minister continued<\/a>. &ldquo;We have a process going through Parliament in relation to the treaty.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4463460\/uk-deal-sovereignty-chagos-islands-scrutiny-renewed-trump-opposition\/\">flip-flopped on the secession of Diego Garcia<\/a> multiple times &mdash; at first firmly opposing the deal, then accepting the assertion that Prime Minister Keir Starmer&rsquo;s hands were tied, then flipping again to demand the U.K. refuse to cede the islands.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease,&rdquo; Trump said in his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/punk-pours-gasoline-on-random-truck-fun-immediately-ends-when-old-man-whips-out-a-pistol\/\" title=\"Punk pours gasoline on truck, old man pulls out pistol.\">latest commentary<\/a> on the deal, claiming the handover would prove to be a &ldquo;blight on our Great Ally.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The claim that the government is &ldquo;pausing&rdquo; the deal was later disputed in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cr5lqd4g338o\">report from the BBC<\/a>, which cited a government source as saying that &ldquo;there is no pause, we have never set a deadline and timings will be announced in the usual way.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4460536\/keir-starmer-investigation-labour-smear-campaign-journalists-russian-conspiracy\/\">Starmer&rsquo;s office<\/a> said on Wednesday that the U.K. position has not changed but that they are awaiting &ldquo;discussions with the US on next steps.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4469781\/peter-mandelson-denies-baseless-claim-flee-uk-british-virgin-islands\/\">PETER MANDELSON DENIES &lsquo;BASELESS&rsquo; CLAIM OF FLEEING UK FOR BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4461476\/jd-vance-british-sherpa-nigel-farage-james-orr-reform-uk\/\">Reform UK leader Nigel Farage<\/a> inserted himself into the debate over the future of Chagos on Wednesday, asserting that the neighboring Maldives boasts a parallel claim to the islands and is liable to countersue Mauritius for the territory.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I wish to inform the government that we are just a few days away, in my opinion, from the Maldives issuing a counterclaim to the International Court of Justice to say, if anybody has the right to the sovereignty of those islands, it is the Maldives and not Mauritius,&rdquo; Farage told Parliament. &ldquo;I would urge you to pause all of this.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UK puts Chagos sovereignty deal on hold after US rebuke<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2573515,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP25142412349932.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[74560,3817,5045,51639,51254],"class_list":["post-2573514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-chagos-islands-2","tag-diplomacy","tag-government","tag-law-2","tag-uk-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP25142412349932.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2573514"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573514\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2573518,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573514\/revisions\/2573518"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2573515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2573514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2573514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2573514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}