Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that the United Kingdom intends to restructure the agreement regarding the Chagos Islands. This move comes after the United States expressed significant resistance to the current terms, suggesting that a new model could be inspired by the recent accord between America and Denmark concerning Greenland.
In an interview with The Economist, the Prime Minister stated that he desires a fresh dialogue with Washington regarding the disputed archipelago. The islands are currently home to the Diego Garcia military base, which is a critical strategic asset for both the UK and the US.
The original treaty was negotiated by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It proposed transferring sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while allowing the UK and US to retain control of the joint military base through a ninety-nine year lease. The financial terms included payments of 165 million pounds over the first three years, followed by an annual payment of 120 million pounds thereafter. However, the deal has been in a state of uncertainty since President Donald Trump publicly voiced his opposition.
Burnham explained that the UK is actively discussing with its American counterparts how to adjust the arrangement to better align with US concerns. He noted that the solution reached for Greenland offers a potential template. "We look at the Greenland deal and obviously there was a solution reached there," he said. "Now, maybe there is something there we can take from that to see if there’s a solution that works in relation to Diego Garcia."
The Greenland agreement allows the island to remain a Danish territory while permitting the US to establish a significant military presence. Additionally, it prohibits rival nations from constructing their own bases on the island. Burnham acknowledged that finding a similar compromise for Diego Garcia is a challenging but active priority for his government.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed that the British government has suspended payments to Mauritius while a compromise is being worked out. He emphasized that the current deal cannot proceed without American support. "This deal as it is currently constituted can’t go ahead without American support," Streeting told the BBC. "So we have to get a deal to a place where it commands American support as well as the agreement of the government of Mauritius and our government."
Trump had previously criticized the Chagos arrangement during a meeting in New York in September. "I don’t support it. I think it’s a terrible deal," the US President said. His comments cast a shadow over the agreement just as he was finalizing the separate deal with Denmark.
Burnham made these remarks upon his return from the Commonwealth heads of government summit in Antigua. The trip was largely focused on discussions with Caribbean nations regarding reparations for slavery. The Prime Minister stated that his government had made progress by opening the door to a potential official apology, describing the outcome as an achievement.
Looking ahead, Burnham is preparing to host the G20 summit in Manchester next year. He indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be excluded from the meeting due to outstanding sanctions against leading figures in his administration. In contrast, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend. Burnham recalled a previous visit by Xi in 2015 and noted that the Chinese leader would see significant changes in Manchester, much of which has been done in partnership with China.
In the coming weeks, the Prime Minister will also prepare for an EU summit in Brussels. He views this as an opportunity for the UK to reconsider its long term relationship with the bloc and the possibility of rejoining. Additionally, he is working on a ten year plan that outlines his vision for the country, including increased public control over key economic sectors. While the plan was promised for this year, Burnham suggested it might be released in December or January, insisting that the document will be substantial and compelling.
