\n<\/p>\n
(AFP) \u2014 Britain is shelving its plan to hand back the Chagos Islands \u2014 which hosts the strategic Diego Garcia US-UK military base \u2014 according to a government spokesperson Saturday, following strong opposition from US President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have always said we would only proceed with the deal if it has US support\u201d the spokesman said in a statement, as reports said legislation to return the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius was due to run out of time in parliament.<\/p>\n Trump in January lashed out at what he called London\u2019s \u201cgreat stupidity\u201d over the deal.<\/p>\n Last May\u2019s Chagos agreement would have seen Britain hand the archipelago \u2014 some 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) northeast of Mauritius \u2014 to its former colony and pay to lease Diego Garcia, the largest island, which is home to the military base, for a century.<\/p>\n \u201cDiego Garcia is a key strategic military asset for both the UK and the US. Ensuring its long-term operational security is and will continue to be our priority \u2013 it is the entire reason for the deal,\u201d the Downing Street spokesperson added.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are continuing to engage with the US and Mauritius.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump had endorsed the deal after it was signed but then launched a scathing attack on it in Truth Social comments in January.<\/p>\n \u201cThe United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia\u2026 for no reason whatsover,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness,\u201d he said, adding that it showed why the US needed to conquer Greenland from ally Denmark.<\/p>\n