UK pulls brakes on Chagos Islands deal, citing lack of US support

The United Kingdom has shelved a bill that would have handed its sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a decision that comes after President Donald Trump lambasted the idea as an “act of great stupidity.”

The U.K. had moved to cede control over the archipelago to Mauritius, drafting legislation due to be taken up by Parliament. If approved, it would put the U.K. into a 99-year lease in order to continue to operate its military base it shares with the United States at Diego Garcia, the largest island of the Chagos archipelago.