Overview

• Donald Trump has formally approved the UK's agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, clearing a major hurdle in the treaty's finalization.
• The UK will retain a 99-year lease on the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base, with annual payments of £90 million to Mauritius, front-loaded in the early years.
• The deal follows a 2019 International Court of Justice ruling deeming the UK's administration of the islands unlawful and urging their return to Mauritius.
• Critics, including UK Conservatives and US Republicans, have expressed concerns over potential risks to US-UK security interests and Mauritius' ties with China.
• The treaty will be presented to the UK Parliament for scrutiny and ratification once finalized with the Mauritian government.