UK pauses Chagos payments as Trump blocks Diego Garcia deal

The UK has paused annual payments of at least £120m to Mauritius as it reviews the Chagos Islands deal, after President Trump refused to back the agreement. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed the deal cannot proceed without US support. Streeting said payments are on hold "at this stage" while the government seeks a revised agreement acceptable to the US, Mauritius, and the UK. He stressed the importance of securing the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia for long-term national and collective security. Trump called the deal "terrible" after meeting Prime Minister Burnham at the UN on Tuesday. Streeting said the criticism was unsurprising and warned against an "ostrich strategy," noting Mauritius could pursue further legal action following the 2019 international court ruling.