LONDON: Britain on Wednesday (Feb 25) rowed again from saying it had paused ratification of a deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, which is dwelling to a strategically essential US-UK air base.
Earlier a overseas workplace minister had instructed parliament that the ratification course of had been paused pending talks with the US, however a spokesperson later mentioned that was not the case.
“There isn’t any pause. Now we have by no means set a deadline. Timings will probably be introduced within the typical method,” the spokesperson mentioned.
“We’re persevering with discussions with the US, and we’ve been clear we is not going to proceed with out their assist.”
Final yr British Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed a deal to switch sovereignty of the Indian Ocean islands to Mauritius, whereas maintaining management of Diego Garcia by way of a 99-year lease that preserved US operations tright here.
However Trump last week renewed his criticism of that deal, saying Starmer was making a “large mistake“.
The invoice to ratify the deal is presently in parliament’s higher chamber the place numerous objections have been raised and a debate and vote has not but been scheduled.
