Overview

• The UK and Mauritius are finalizing a treaty to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands while securing a 99-year lease for Diego Garcia, a key military base.
• The agreement, approved by Donald Trump, includes £90 million annual payments to Mauritius, adjusted for inflation, to maintain the base's operation.
• Parliamentary approval will proceed under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, limiting debate to three weeks, raising concerns over insufficient scrutiny.
• The treaty has faced criticism from Conservative MPs, who argue the islands should remain under British sovereignty, and from advocates for displaced Chagossians, who were excluded from negotiations.
• The UK government defends the deal as essential for long-term security in the Indo-Pacific, though critics warn of future risks if Mauritius alters the agreement.