Burnham reworks Chagos pact terms

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the United Kingdom will restructure the Chagos Islands agreement. The change responds to strong objections from the United States. Burnham wants to open new talks with Washington about the disputed archipelago.

The islands host the Diego Garcia military base. This site is a key strategic asset for both the UK and the US. The original treaty was negotiated by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It planned to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius. In exchange, the UK and US would keep control of the base under a 99-year lease. The deal included payments of 165 million pounds in the first three years, followed by 120 million pounds annually.

President Donald Trump voiced opposition to the original terms. He called the arrangement a terrible deal during a meeting in New York in September. His comments created uncertainty for the agreement. This happened as he finalized a separate deal with Denmark regarding Greenland.

Burnham sees the Greenland accord as a potential template. That agreement allows Greenland to remain a Danish territory while permitting a major US military presence. It also bans rival nations from building bases on the island. Burnham said, We look at the Greenland deal and obviously there was a solution reached there. He added that the UK may use that model to find a solution for Diego Garcia.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed the British government suspended payments to Mauritius. He stated the current deal cannot proceed without American support. Streeting told the BBC, This deal as it is currently constituted can’t go ahead without American support. He said the UK must secure agreement from the US, Mauritius, and its own government.

Burnham made these remarks after returning from the Commonwealth heads of government summit in Antigua. The trip focused on reparations for slavery. Burnham said his government opened the door to a potential official apology. He described this outcome as an achievement.

The Prime Minister is preparing to host the G20 summit in Manchester next year. He indicated Russian President Vladimir Putin would be excluded due to outstanding sanctions. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend. Burnham also plans to attend an EU summit in Brussels. He views this as a chance to reconsider the UK relationship with the bloc. A ten-year plan outlining his vision for the country may be released in December or January.