UK and Mauritius Near Agreement on Chagos Islands Following US Approval
Britain and Mauritius Finalizing Deal to Transfer Sovereignty of Chagos Islands
Britain and Mauritius are in the process of finalizing a deal to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, a disputed UK territory that is home to a major US military base. The UK government has confirmed that President Donald Trump’s administration has been consulted on the deal and has given its approval, with no further action needed from the US.
“We are working with the Mauritian government to finalize and sign the treaty,” said Tom Wells, a spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “Once signed, it will be laid before both houses of Parliament for scrutiny and for ratification.”
The negotiations between Britain and Mauritius involve the UK handing over the Indian Ocean archipelago, which includes the strategically important naval and bomber base on the largest of the islands, Diego Garcia. Under the terms of the agreement, the UK would then lease back the base for at least 99 years.
This potential transfer of sovereignty marks a significant development in the longstanding dispute over the Chagos Islands and could have geopolitical implications in the region. It remains to be seen how the deal will be received by both British and Mauritian lawmakers, as well as by the international community.
