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  "path": "/news/us/us-congress-new-powers-scupper-labour-chagos-deal-keir-starmer-donald-trump",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-13T15:09:16.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "All six US crew members killed in Iraq plane crash",
    "Pete Hegseth declares 'not-so-Supreme Leader' wounded and 'disfigured' after missed appearance",
    "'It's too late now!' Donald Trump slams Keir Starmer in front of G7 leaders in tense Iran row",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nA Republican senator has introduced legislation that could torpedo Sir Keir Starmer's controversial agreement to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.\n\nSenator John Kennedy of Louisiana tabled the Diego Garcia Oversight Act today, which would grant US Congress the authority to block any handover of sovereignty.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe Prime Minister's plan to cede the archipelago to Mauritius has attracted fierce criticism, with opponents highlighting the country's close ties to both China and Iran.\n\nUnder the proposed arrangement, Britain would relinquish control of the islands while leasing back the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base, which serves as a joint US-UK facility amid the Middle East conflict.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe Trump administration has been among those voicing strong objections to the deal.\n\nThe proposed legislation would mandate Senate approval before any alterations could be made to the 1966 treaty that established American and British rights to operate from Diego Garcia.\n\nAdditionally, the bill would compel Downing Street to furnish Congress with a comprehensive report addressing the national security rationale behind any treaty modifications, the potential impact on US operational authority at the base, and any dangers arising from foreign sovereignty or military presence.\n\nSenator Kennedy, a close presidential ally, framed the measure as essential for keeping the facility out of Beijing's orbit.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"When two countries shake hands on a treaty, one of them can't start changing the terms without the other country agreeing to it,\" he said, \"that's just common sense\".\n\n\"My bill would make sure that our friends in the UK don't modify our treaty and hand this gift to China without giving the Senate a say\".\n\nThe Chagos deal was put on pause when the conflict in the Middle East began, with strong opposition placing a foot on Sir Keir Starmer's neck.\n\nAmong the most passionate of critics was Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who personally visited the islands to speak with recent settlers and see the implications of the deal first-hand.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:\n\n\n\n\n  * All six US crew members killed in Iraq plane crash\n  * Pete Hegseth declares 'not-so-Supreme Leader' wounded and 'disfigured' after missed appearance\n  * 'It's too late now!' Donald Trump slams Keir Starmer in front of G7 leaders in tense Iran row\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe financial terms of Sir Keir's agreement would see Britain pay Mauritius £35bilion across a 99-year lease period for continued access to Diego Garcia.\n\nThis latest dispute represents another friction point in deteriorating relations between London and Washington.\n\nTensions escalated when the Prime Minister declined to permit President Trump to launch initial military strikes against Iran from the Diego Garcia facility.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe base occupies a strategically crucial location that places Iran within range of American bombers, enabling continuous long-range missions including last year's B-2 Spirit attack on Tehran.\n\nCiting international law, Britain initially refused US requests to conduct operations from Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford.\n\nSir Keir subsequently reversed course, agreeing to grant American forces access to the base for \"specific and limited defensive purposes\".\n\nSpeaking to The Telegraph, President Trump described the Prime Minister's initial refusal to permit base access as unprecedented in the history of UK-US relations.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe president subsequently attacked Sir Keir over his perceived lack of backing for the Iran conflict, declaring he was \"not Winston Churchill\" and risked \"ruining the special relationship\".\n\nMr Trump's stance on the Chagos agreement has since shifted following sustained pressure from British and American intelligence services, alongside Republican lawmakers.\n\nSenator Kennedy was instrumental in efforts earlier this year to derail the deal, co-signing a February letter with Senator Ted Cruz.\n\nThat correspondence urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to reject the agreement outright and withdraw any diplomatic communications that had endorsed it.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter **",
  "title": "US Congress to be given new powers that could scupper Labour's Chagos deal"
}