The UK government has denied that its deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has been paused, contradicting statements made by a Foreign Office minister in Parliament.

Hamish Falconer, a Foreign Office minister, told the House of Commons that there was a temporary halt on the handover of the strategically important archipelago to Mauritius. His comments came after criticism of the deal from President Trump and amid reported US concerns about the arrangement.

However, government officials later clarified that the ratification process has not been halted, creating confusion over the current status of the agreement. The conflicting messages have highlighted tensions within the government over how to handle the deal amid international pressure.

The Chagos Islands, which include the Diego Garcia military base used jointly by the US and UK, have been the subject of a sovereignty dispute. The proposed handover deal has faced scrutiny from US officials who have raised concerns about the strategic implications of transferring control to Mauritius.

The UK government has acknowledged it is in discussions with the United States about these concerns, though officials maintain that the formal ratification process remains ongoing. The mixed messaging has created uncertainty about the timeline and ultimate fate of the agreement.