Overview

• The UK plans to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, with a 99-year leaseback of Diego Garcia for military use at a reported cost of £9 billion.
• The US has requested direct involvement in negotiations, citing strategic concerns about maintaining control over the Diego Garcia military base.
• Critics in the US and UK warn that the deal could increase Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region, despite assurances from Mauritius to block third-party access.
• Opponents argue that the UK’s justification for the deal, including legal risks to military communications, has been undermined by recent clarifications on international arbitration limits.
• Mauritius emphasizes its claim of sovereignty over the islands as a decolonization issue, while Chagossian resettlement and compensation remain key points in the agreement.