Chagos Islands base to be BANNED from storing nuclear weapons as Labour promises of military freedom 'completely compromised'

Mauritius has signed the African Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, commonly known as the Pelindaba Treaty, which explicitly forbids the "stockpiling, acquisition, testing, possession, control or stationing of nuclear weapons".

In a recording from August obtained by The Telegraph, Mr Berenger addressed the distinction between permanent storage and temporary presence of nuclear arms at the site.

"The Pelindaba Treaty, this is not a new thing, it has been in place for years. It does not, unfortunately, ban the presence of nuclear (weapons), it prevents the storage," he stated.

"There is a difference between storage and transit."

Ministers have consistently maintained this international agreement would have no bearing on military activities on the British Indian Ocean Territory.

However, Mr Berenger's remarks cast significant doubt on these assurances. Removing the nuclear weapons prohibition would necessitate consent from all parties to the Pelindaba Treaty.

With more than 50 African nations having signed the agreement, securing such approval could prove an extraordinarily lengthy process spanning many years.

The revelation deepens an already significant diplomatic rift between London and Washington over an agreement that President Donald Trump last week described as an "act of great stupidity".

Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel condemned the restriction on nuclear weapons storage as having "serious implications for our security and that of our allies".

"Ministers assured Parliament the deal would not interfere with the 'full operational autonomy' of the base. But the Mauritian government clearly takes a different view and having dictated terms to our weak Prime Minister throughout this sorry process, they are unlikely to concede on this," she said.

The Conservative MP further questioned whether American allies would permit the handover to proceed, noting China, Russia and Iran, all of which maintain partnerships with Mauritius, have welcomed the agreement.

"These developments raise further doubts about whether our allies in the US will allow the surrender to go ahead," she added.

Former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat MP wrote on X: "Mauritius is making their position clear. Starmer isn't. It's time to rethink."

Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge added: "Chagos chaos latest: an extraordinary development that goes against all the promises from Labour Ministers, confirming our freedom to operate militarily - and that of the US - would be completely compromised under their crazy deal.

"Time for another Starmer U-turn."

American military forces have utilised Diego Garcia for nuclear-capable operations over many years, with the Indian Ocean base serving as a strategic hub for bomber aircraft.

The United States has conducted exercises in the region using B-52 jets, which are capable of carrying nuclear payloads and could potentially be barred from operating at the facility.

Last year, a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, another aircraft designed to deploy nuclear weapons, landed at Diego Garcia to complete a rapid refuelling mission.

Additionally, the USS West Virginia, a ballistic missile submarine with nuclear capabilities, made a port call at the base in 2022.

All such operations now face potential suspension should the Chagos agreement be finalised, significantly curtailing American military flexibility in the region.

The agreement, which the Prime Minister signed last May but has yet to be ratified, ground to a halt on Friday when frontbenchers were compelled to withdraw the legislation.

A House of Lords debate on the Chagos Islands Bill scheduled for Monday was postponed after Tories warned the deal could breach a separate 1966 treaty between the UK and US.

That six-decade-old agreement stipulates Diego Garcia must remain under British sovereignty.

Should Mr Trump decline to amend this treaty, the entire Chagos arrangement would collapse.

The developments represent a significant setback for the Government's plans to cede control of the archipelago to Mauritius whilst retaining the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia through a 99-year lease.

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