US EditionStarmer signs deal to hand over UK control of Chagos Islands to Mauritius
- In 2025, Britain and Mauritius agreed on a transfer of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, excluding Diego Garcia, which would remain under British control.
- The agreement followed decades of dispute, including a 1965 British separation of the islands, the forced eviction of up to 2,000 Chagossians, and stalled negotiations due to changes in Mauritius' government and U.S. Approval delays.
- Diego Garcia, which hosts a significant U.S. Naval and bomber base staffed by roughly 2,500 primarily American personnel, serves as a crucial hub for military activities in the Middle East and beyond, and will remain governed by the United Kingdom for a minimum of 99 years.
- A British High Court judge issued an injunction hours before the scheduled signing, temporarily barring the deal following legal challenges from displaced Chagossian women who argued the handover could hinder their right to return.
- The deal's pause keeps Britain in colonial control, drawing criticism from Chagossians and the U.N., while the U.K. Government plans an annual £90 million payment to Mauritius for the Diego Garcia base lease and ongoing geopolitical tensions remain.
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India welcomes U.K.'s decision to hand over sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius
In its reaction, India said it has consistently supported Mauritius's "legitimate claim" over the Chagos Archipelago in keeping with its principled position on "decolonisation, respect for sovereignty, and the territorial integrity of nations".
Where are Chagos Islands? What is the UK-Mauritius deal? What is India’s stance?
The UK has agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending decades of British administration. The deal includes a £101 million annual payment to lease the base for 99 years, amid concerns over national security and diplomatic relations.
Keir Starmer signs £30bn deal to hand Chagos Islands to Mauritius after late legal challenge
UK prime minister Keir Starmer has formally signed an agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after a scramble to prevent a further legal challenge following a last-minute injunction to halt the move failed yesterday.
UK Hands Over Control of Chagos Islands to Mauritius
Despite reports in the Times of London that plans to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius had been put on hold, the UK’s Prime Minister Kier Starmer signed a formal agreement on the transfer on May 22. A High Court order had temporarily delayed the signing ceremony earlier in the day. The deal provides for an immediate leaseback of the strategic atoll of Diego Garcia and a surrounding 24-mile buffer zone to the UK, and it per…
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