Britain’s plan to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which host a strategic U.K.-U.S. military base, has been put on indefinite hold after the Trump administration withdrew its support.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said London would try to persuade Washington to give its formal approval.
U.S. President Donald Trump described the deal in February as a “big mistake,” despite previously calling it the best outcome available to Starmer.
Under the deal, Britain would retain control of the strategically important military base on Diego Garcia on a 99-year lease that preserves U.S. operations there.
A British government spokesperson said ensuring the long-term operational security of Diego Garcia would remain a priority.
"We continue to believe the agreement is the best way to protect the long-term future of the base, but we have always said we would only proceed with the deal if it has U.S. support. We are continuing to engage with the U.S. and Mauritius," the spokesperson said.
UK- U.S. relations strained
The alliance between Washington and London has come under strain in recent weeks over Starmer's reluctance to get involved in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and his refusal at the start of the conflict to allow Trump to use British air bases to launch attacks.
U.S. forces have since been permitted to carry out what the prime minister calls defensive strikes.
Trump has also repeatedly criticised the British leader, saying he was 'not Winston Churchill' and had ruined what is often called a "special relationship" between Britain and the U.S.
Mauritius Attorney General Gavin Glover told local media on Saturday that the UK and the U.S. would need to find "common ground" to reach an agreement.
"The information that the agreement has been put on hold does not come as a surprise to us," Glover added.
"The deterioration in relations between Keir Starmer and Donald Trump is at the root of the problem, as the United Kingdom needs the United States to be aligned with the treaty."
Glover said that the country will hold discussions with Britain later this month in Mauritius.
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