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yesterday

UK Finalizes Sovereignty Transfer of Chagos Islands to Mauritius with Key Military Base Lease Secured

Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the treaty after a High Court injunction was lifted, ensuring UK-US control of Diego Garcia for 99 years at £101 million annually.

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Aerial view of Diego Garcia in the Chagos Island group.
Chagossian Bernadette Dugasse looks at a Chagos Islands map during an interview with The Associated Press, at her home in London, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Overview

  • The UK has ceded sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while securing a 99-year lease on the Diego Garcia military base, a critical UK-US defense asset.
  • Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed the treaty on May 22, 2025, after a High Court judge lifted a pre-dawn injunction temporarily blocking the agreement.
  • The deal will cost the UK £101 million annually and is intended to uphold national security and the UK-US strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • Chagossian claimants, displaced from the islands decades ago, continue to challenge the agreement, citing lack of consultation and concerns over their rights.
  • Critics, including Conservative politicians, warn the deal could increase Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean and place financial strain on UK taxpayers.