Yvette Cooper will meet her US counterpart Marco Rubio for talks in Washington after the UK’s deal to hand the Chagos Islands over the Mauritius was thrown into fresh doubt by Donald Trump this week.
Earlier this week, the US president urged Sir Keir Starmer not to “give away Diego Garcia” – an island on the archipelago which is home to a joint UK-US military base – despite Washington signalling its official backing for the deal on Tuesday.
Ms Cooper and US secretary of state Mr Rubio are expected to hold talks on UK-US cooperation on a range of areas including defence, security and trade when they meet later today.
But the Chagos Islands deal, which has been repeatedly criticised by Mr Trump, is expected to be high on the agenda.
It comes amid reports that the US president’s latest U-turn on his previous support for the agreement is because of Britain’s refusal to give the White House the green light to use the base or RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire for a potential military campaign against Iran.
The government’s position is due to concerns over a breach of international law, The Times reported, which does not distinguish between a nation carrying out an attack and one that provides support with “knowledge of the circumstances of the internationally wrongful act”.
The bases can only be used for military operations with prior consent from the government and would need to comply with UK law and the country’s interpretation of relevant international law.
The US president is weighing fresh military action against the Islamic Republic, with a second American warship moving into the region and warnings that he could go ahead if no deal on its nuclear programme is reached.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said that “it may be necessary” for the US to use Diego Garcia “and the airfield located in Fairford” in order to “eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous regime”.
He also described the UK’s agreement to hand sovereignty to Mauritius and lease back the Diego Garcia joint UK-US military base as “a big mistake”.
Under Sir Keir’s plans for handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, the UK would lease back the base on Diego Garcia. However, Mr Trump described this arrangement as “tenuous” and “no good”.
The government has said it remains committed to advancing the Chagos Islands deal despite Mr Trump’s latest U-turn.
On Thursday, justice minister Alex Davies-Jones confirmed a Bill to agree the deal will return to Parliament as soon as the timetable permits, though recent reports suggest a potential delay.
The proposed legislation, originally slated for debate in the House of Lords, was withdrawn last month following a Conservative-led amendment that called for a pause “in light of the changing geopolitical circumstances”.
A government spokesperson also refused to comment on “operational matters” and said there was a political process “ongoing between the US and Iran, which the UK supports”.
“Iran must never be able to develop a nuclear weapon, and our priority is security in the region,” they said.
While in Washington, Ms Cooper will also attend the National Governors’ Association Reception, where she will meet with a range of US governors and discuss business opportunities for British firms as well as celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence.
