UK-Mauritius Chagos Deal Faces Delays Amid US Intervention and Political Criticism

The agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, involving a 99-year lease of Diego Garcia, faces opposition from US and UK politicians over security and geopolitical concerns.

• 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.

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