Overview

• The UK has ceded sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while securing a 99-year lease for the Diego Garcia military base, a key UK-US defense asset.
• An early morning High Court injunction temporarily blocked the signing, citing legal challenges from Chagossian claimants, but it was overturned later in the day.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer finalized the agreement, which costs the UK £101 million annually, following international legal rulings deeming UK control unlawful.
• The displaced Chagossian community has criticized the deal, claiming exclusion from negotiations and insufficient protections for their right to return.
• Critics have raised concerns about Mauritius's ties to China, but the UK government argues the agreement secures long-term strategic interests and national security.