The UK government has paused its plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Officials acknowledged legislation ratifying the agreement ran out of time in Parliament, with the current session ending in the coming weeks.
The decision follows the withdrawal of support from the United States, with President Trump previously calling the plan “an act of great stupidity.” The islands are home to the U.S.-British Diego Garcia air base.
While not entirely abandoning the agreement, UK officials stated that time constraints, stemming from opposition, have halted progress. A bill outlining the return of the Indian Ocean archipelago has been put on hold.