United Kingdom: Sir Keir Starmer is set to sign a historic agreement that will see the United Kingdom relinquish sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while maintaining strategic military operations in the region.
The deal will be formalised during a virtual signing ceremony between the UK Prime Minister and representatives from the Mauritian government. Under the terms, Mauritius will take sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), but will lease back the key military base on Diego Garcia to the UK and the US for an initial period of 99 years.
In return, the agreement will involve a multi-billion pound financial settlement, the full details of which have not yet been disclosed. The government has yet to show the estimated cost to the UK taxpayer, though it is expected to be substantial.
The deal had appeared to stall after modifications in government leadership in both Mauritius and the United States. In Mauritius, the departure of former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, who spearheaded the initial agreement led to concerns raised by his successor, Navin Ramgoolam. In the US, the incoming Trump administration, particularly Secretary of State Marco Rubio, initially criticised the plan, citing possible risks to US national security due to Mauritius’ links with China.
However, former President Donald Trump reversed course last month, expressing support for the arrangement. The deal is now backed by both UK and US governments, with UK Foreign Office officials stating it will safeguard the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia, which is vital to our national security.
Ahead of the signing, Minister for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty is scheduled to meet with six representatives from the Chagossian community. According to a government email, the session will address Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) projects and a newly presented Chagossian contact group.
The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius in 1965 when Mauritius was still a British colony. The UK purchased the archipelago for $4.02 million (£3 million) and retained control following Mauritian independence in 1968. Mauritius has since maintained that it was forced into the deal and that the separation was unlawful.
In recent years, international pressure has mounted on the UK to resolve the issue. Several United Nations bodies have backed Mauritius’ claim to sovereignty over the islands, increasing diplomatic pressure on Britain to act.
The Conservative opposition has criticised the Labour government’s decision to push forward with the handover, accusing it of weakening UK strategic interests. Reform UK has also voiced strong opposition. However, Labour has argued that the agreement not only fulfils legal and diplomatic obligations but also ensures the long-term future of the Diego Garcia military base.
Defence Secretary John Healey addressed MPs, reiterating the base’s critical role in UK and US security efforts. John Healey stated that, “We’ve had to act, as the previous government started to do, to deal with that jeopardy. We’re completing those arrangements and will report to the House when we can.”
Following the official signing, further details of the deal, including the possibility of a 40-year lease extension, are expected to be shared with MPs in the House of Commons.
MOST READ | England to roll out world’s first routine Gonorrhoea vaccine
