The archipelago is home to the British Indian Ocean Territory, and its largest island, Diego Garcia, hosts a joint US-UK military base. Now plans to transfer the islands back to Mauritius have suffered a setback, after the House of Lords inflicted four defeats on the government's deal. What were they? The first defeat concerned proposals to lease Diego Garcia back from Mauritius for 99 years, at the cost of some £101m per year. An amendment was proposed that payments to Mauritius should stop if the Diego Garcia base could no longer be used. The government opposed it, but was defeated by eight votes. The Lib Dems then dealt the government a second blow with an amendment proposing that Chagossians in the UK should get a referendum on the deal. A third defeat came in the form of a Tory amendment that would force ministers to publish detailed costings of payments to Mauritius. Then the government faced a final defeat when the Lib Dems proposed that parliament be given oversight of spending linked to the treaty, allowing MPs to stop payments to Mauritius if it breaches the terms of the deal. Tories condemn 'terrible' legislation But the government did manage to narrowly defeat a proposal to stop the islands being handed over unless the move was backed by a majority of Chagossians in a referendum. Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said Labour had faced a "humiliating defeat". She added: "Keir Starmer is weak and incapable of standing up for Britain at home and abroad. Britain's defence and security are at risk because of this terrible legislation." The deal will now return to the House of Commons, where the government will have the chance to throw out the Lords' amendments. Read more:Starmer plots end of peer show for ToriesUN committee 'deeply concerned' by Chagos deal How did we get here? Negotiations between the UK and Mauritius over the islands began in 2022, when the Conservatives were in office. Formerly a French possession, the Chagos Islands were ceded to Britain in 1814 and formed into the British Indian Ocean Territory in 1965. Britain displaced its local population in the early 1970s and since then only military personnel have been allowed access. Mauritius has long sought sovereignty over the islands, taking its case to the International Court of Justice, which agreed Britain was obliged to end its administration over the territory.

Hot on the heels of ordering the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife during strikes on Saturday, Donald Trump reiterated he wants to take over the Danish territory. Politics latest: Rumours of Labour leadership challenges continue Speaking to Sky News political editor Beth Rigby, Sir Keir said: "Let me be really clear about Greenland - the future for Greenland is for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark. "Denmark is a close European ally, a close NATO ally. And the future therefore has to be for Greenland, for the Kingdom of Denmark, and only for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark." Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she would "strongly urge the ‌US to stop the threats against a historically close ally". Sir Keir added: "I stand with her. She's right about the future of Greenland." In a statement to the House of Commons later, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reiterated the prime minister's position, saying: "Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Our close European partners, our long-standing NATO allies and all our countries work closely together on security issues, and will always do so. "The future of Greenland is a matter for the Greenlanders and Danes, and no-one else." In comments on Monday afternoon, the Danish prime minister said Mr Trump "should be taken seriously when he says that he wants Greenland", and said: "If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops. "That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War." Ms Frederiksen called on the US government to "take note of the once again significant European support that we are receiving". In contrast with their clear position on Greenland, Sir Keir and his ministers have been reticent to say whether the US broke international law by attacking Venezuela and capturing Maduro. Earlier, Home Office minister Mike Tapp repeatedly declined to warn Mr Trump against taking military action against Greenland in an interview with Sky News lead politics presenter Sophy Ridge. He said that both the US and Denmark were NATO members, and that was the forum for discussions to take place. Greenland was also different to Venezuela, Mr Tapp added, before saying on Mr Trump taking military action that he couldn't "talk about hypotheticals". Mr Trump also said the US would "run" Venezuela until a "proper transition" can take place. All EU nations apart from Hungary called for international law to be respected over Venezuela on Sunday night, as did Canada and Norway. UN secretary general Antonio Guterres was quick to come out and condemn the US's actions, with a UN statement saying Mr Guterres was "deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected". Read more:UK government refuses to say if Trump broke the lawVenezuela latest: China demands US frees MaduroWho will take over as Venezuela's president? Pressed on why he would not say the same, Sir Keir told Sky News: "I'm going to be clear that I believe in international law. I've long been an advocate for international law. "I'm absolutely clear that this is the framework that applies. Obviously, it'll be for the US to set out that justification in relation to the action." The comment on Monday was slightly stronger than Sir Keir's initial reaction on Saturday, when he told the BBC he was waiting to establish all the facts but would not "shy away from this", adding he was a "lifelong advocate of international law".

Mr Streeting, the health secretary and a possible Labour leadership contender, defended Sir Keir Starmer's stance since the US carried out strikes on Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on 3 January. Following the military operation, Mr Trump has also ramped up threats to take over Greenland. Politics latest: Starmer heads to Paris to meet European leaders In an interview with Sky's US partner NBC News on Monday, Mr Trump said he is "very serious" about annexing Greenland and said the US and Europe need it "for national security". Sir Keir and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper have been reluctant to criticise the US over Venezuela, while other countries are saying he broke international law - but the prime minister has been clear that Greenland is Denmark's. In the UK government's strongest stance over the past few days, Mr Streeting told Mornings with Ridge and Frost: "The prime minister chooses what to say, how to say it, and when to say it very carefully. "And what he always has at the forefront of his mind is how does he make sure that he uses his influence and leverage in a way that first and foremost works to our national interest, whether economic interests or security interests? "And then for the collective interest as well of our global security in the rules-based system - which we've seen disintegrating before our eyes." He said the government's stance "is just the nature of diplomacy" and the UK has a "different relationship" with the US to those countries that have criticised the US and Mr Trump. "The prime minister has unique leverage and influence, and he's sought to bring that to bear consistently," he added. "And I would argue, effectively, to pursue our interests." On Monday evening, Ms Cooper said she had spoken to her US counterpart Marco Rubio and had "raised the importance of complying with international law" - but would not say the US had broken it. Dame Emily Thornberry, Labour chair of the influential foreign affairs committee, told Sky News she thinks the government should defend international law "publicly" as it is based on the agreement of countries around the world. "And so if one country does something and its close allies say nothing about it, then the implication is, 'well, that's okay, I can carry on behaving like that'," she said. Read more:Maduro says he is 'prisoner of war' at NYC court hearingChagos deal suffers 'humiliating' defeat Mr Streeting, who called Mr Trump "an odious, sad little man" in a 2017 social media post, admitted Mr Trump and Sir Keir are "not natural political allies, with very different styles and very different characters". "But the prime minister has worked through all of that with President Trump to build a relationship and try to leverage that relationship in our national interest, and I think the prime minister has done it very successfully," he added. On Mr Trump's threats to take over Greenland, which, as a Danish territory, is part of NATO, Mr Streeting said: "This is not the time to destabilise NATO and to undermine our collective security."

Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Yvette Cooper declined to say that the US had broken international law, despite calls from MPs of all parties for her to do so, and said the "immediate focus" needed to be avoiding "further instability" in Venezuela. US airstrikes were carried out across the South American country in the early hours of Saturday, when President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown to the US, arriving in New York on Sunday, where they have faced drug trafficking and weapons charges. Addressing MPs on Monday evening, the foreign secretary said she had spoken to her US counterpart, Marco Rubio, and that she "raised the importance of complying with international law and we will continue to urge all partners to do so". Ms Cooper continued: "It is, of course, for the US to set out the legal basis for their actions and the UN Security Council is discussing Venezuela this afternoon. These issues will continue to be matters for international discussion. "I discussed with Secretary Rubio what should happen next and our continued commitment to a transition to a peaceful and stable democracy. "Our collective immediate focus must be on avoiding any deterioration in Venezuela into further instability, criminality, repression or violence that would be deeply damaging for the people of Venezuela, our own overseas territories, our allies and in the US and other regional partners." The UK's most senior diplomat said later of Maduro that "a man who is currently being investigated for crimes against humanity and who has such a history of political repression as well as economic destruction and corruption should not be leading a country". Ms Cooper opened her statement with criticism of Maduro for his "authoritarian rule" and criticised his links to Russia and said his regime facilitated "organised criminal activity and narcotics trafficking and illegal gold trading". "That undermines the security of the whole region, including UK overseas territories, as well as the United States and other regional partners," she said. 👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈 Ms Cooper noted opposition figures had been forced out of the country, saying: "These are the hallmarks of a regime that clings to power through fear, coercion and violence, not through democratic consent. "And that is why, as the prime minister said on Saturday, we can shed no tears for the end of Maduro's rule." But Your Party co-founder and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said that Maduro is still "constitutionally" the leader of Venezuela. Speaking to Darren McCaffrey on Sky's Politics Hub, it was put to the former Labour leader that lots of countries and international organisations say both the 2019 and 2024 Venezuelan elections were stolen by Maduro. Mr Corbyn replied: "That is the assessment made by quite a lot of organisations. It is not the assessment made by everybody in Venezuela. There are people who clearly do support Maduro and still do support Maduro." While he said he is "disturbed" by an Amnesty report setting out human rights abuses by the Maduro regime, Mr Corbyn insisted he is the legitimate leader, saying: "Constitutionally, he is the head. Who are we to decide?" The independent MP for Islington North went on to describe the US military action as "a violation of every aspect of international law" that has been condemned by governments "that were not terribly supportive of Maduro". Asked if Maduro was a "decent man", as the deposed president described himself in court today, Mr Corbyn said: "He's the president of Venezuela, and the issue is the illegality of what the United States has done." But the foreign secretary told MPs that Maduro's regime clung to power "through fear, coercion and violence, not through democratic consent", which is why the UK "can shed no tears" for the end of his rule. Ms Cooper also said that she had today spoken to opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, adding: "Her unwavering fight for democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Venezuela and against oppression is inspirational and we will keep in touch over the days and weeks ahead." The UK's endorsement of Machado contrasts with Donald Trump's position. He said on Saturday that it would be "very tough for her to be the leader", and that she lacks the "respect" and "support" to lead the country. Ms Machado has been a member of Venezuela's national assembly, and has run as a presidential candidate, although was barred from standing in 2024, and said she had been forced into hiding following the election. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 for her work - ahead of Mr Trump.

Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as Venezuela's interim president after Nicolas Maduro was captured by the US in its weekend raid on the South American nation. Formerly vice president, Ms Rodriguez has been a controversial figure for her role within the oppressive Maduro regime. Politics live: Rules-based system 'disintegrating before our eyes' Sky News has confirmed via Treasury documents that she had been sanctioned by the UK in 2020, and still appears on the list. This included her being subject to an asset freeze, disqualified as a director and subject to a travel ban. The reasons given for her being added were: "There are reasonable grounds to suspect that her actions on the Presidential Commission and then as president of the Constituent Assembly have undermined democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, including usurping the powers of the National Assembly and using them to target the opposition and prevent them taking part in the political process." Ms Rodriguez was added to the UK sanctions list after EU sanctions were grandfathered into the British list after Brexit, having been designated by the bloc in 2018. Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty told Sky News: "Yesterday, the foreign secretary couldn't confirm to me whether the newly sworn in president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, was already sanctioned by the UK. "How can we expect the situation for the people of Venezuela to improve if its new president is part of the regime already deemed by us to be illegitimate?" Read more:Streeting sends warning to Trump over GreenlandWhy is Trump so interested in Venezuela's oil? 👉 Follow Trump100 on your podcast app 👈 UK documents say the regulations "impose financial, director disqualification, trade and immigration sanctions" to encourage the Venezuelan government "respect democratic principles and institutions, the separation of powers and the rule of law; refrain from actions, policies or activities which repress civil society; participate in negotiations with its political opponents in good faith to bring about a peaceful solution to the political crisis; and comply with international human rights law and respect human rights". And the travel ban means: "Designated individuals will be refused leave to enter or remain in the UK. "Any applications they make for a visa to travel to the UK, including for transit purposes, will be refused. "Any foreign national who is subject to a travel ban under these regulations, and who is currently in the UK, will have their permission to stay in the UK cancelled, and steps will be taken to remove them from the UK." Many members of the Maduro regime appear in the sanctions list, but notably not the man himself. A nation's leader being sanctioned is not novel, with the likes of Russia's Vladimir Putin, Belarus's Alexander Lukashenko and Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing all currently under similar measures. Asked about the sanctions, senior Labour MP and chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Dame Emily Thornbery said swathes of the Venezuelan government are sanctioned, including senior members of the judiciary and military. She added: "There is a very sizeable chunk of the establishment at the top of Venezuela... now, if you're going to change Venezuela, you don't just snatch Maduro in the middle of the night. "There is much more work that needs to be done, and that is the reality." A Downing Street source said they would not comment on sanctions. Sky News has approached the FCDO for comment.