Overview
- Britain signed a May 22 agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, but Parliament has not ratified it and the handover remains unsettled.
- After President Trump called the plan “great stupidity,” the White House reopened consultations and he could hinder the transfer by refusing to update the 1966 U.S.-UK treaty required for implementation.
- Diego Garcia hosts a joint base used for surveillance, rapid response and U.S. Space Force tracking, with recent roles in strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen and in Gaza relief operations.
- A House of Lords–supervised survey found Chagossians overwhelmingly opposed to Mauritian sovereignty and favoring remaining British.
- Chagossian leaders have declared a government in exile, and observers warn reported terms could tie base access to long-term British payments and create legal uncertainty influenced by Mauritius’ treaty obligations, including the Pelindaba Treaty.