UK and Mauritius Push Forward on Chagos Islands Handover Deal

Negotiations continue as Mauritius submits new proposals, while Chagossians and US officials raise concerns over the agreement's terms.

The UK and Mauritius aim to finalize a treaty transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, including the Diego Garcia military base, to Mauritius as quickly as possible.
Mauritius's newly elected Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has rejected a previous deal, reopening negotiations and submitting counterproposals to the UK.
Chagossians, displaced from the islands decades ago, have criticized the agreement for excluding their input and have called for a referendum on their future.
The deal proposes a 99-year lease for the Diego Garcia base to ensure its continued operation, but incoming US President Donald Trump has expressed reservations about the arrangement.
UK officials argue the treaty is necessary to resolve legal uncertainties and comply with an International Court of Justice ruling, but domestic political opposition persists.