The UK has signed a historic deal to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in exchange for continued military access to Diego Garcia. Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the UK signs £101m-a-year deal to return Chagos Islands, which will run for an initial period of 99 years.
UK signs £101m-a-year deal to return Chagos Islands, a move described as essential to maintaining strategic stability while facing sharp criticism from opposition leaders and Chagossian exiles.
Under the deal, the UK and US will continue operating the joint military base on Diego Garcia. A 24-mile security buffer will prevent foreign military or civilian development without UK consent. The treaty includes a 40-year extension option and requires approval from both the UK and Mauritian parliaments.
Starmer defended the agreement, calling it necessary to avoid international legal complications and preserve national security. “If we didn’t act, we risked losing control of Diego Garcia and opening the door for rivals like China,” he said. The PM added that the US and allies, including President Trump, welcomed the deal.
The arrangement has faced backlash from the Conservative Party, who called it “an act of national self-harm.” Tory leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Labour for “paying to give something away” and warned of deeper ties between Mauritius and China. Former security minister Tom Tugendhat said the deal hands over operational influence and “fundamentally alters” UK defense posture.
UK signs £101m-a-year deal to return Chagos Islands, a decision taken after the High Court dismissed a last-minute legal challenge from two Chagossian women born on Diego Garcia. The challenge claimed the Chagossian community had been excluded from the decision-making process and feared discrimination if returned under Mauritian control.
While Chagossian campaigners in the UK expressed anger and betrayal, some celebrated in Mauritius. Olivier Bancoult, head of the Chagos Refugees Group, hailed the moment as a “historic day,” saying younger generations can now walk the land of their ancestors.
Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam praised the agreement as a victory. “Chagossians must be able to live on their islands again,” he said.
Despite emotional divisions within the Chagossian diaspora, the deal marks the end of a decades-long sovereignty dispute. The UN and international courts had sided with Mauritius, pressuring the UK to act.
UK signs £101m-a-year deal to return Chagos Islands, reshaping geopolitics in the Indian Ocean while exposing tensions between sovereignty, security, and justice for the displaced.
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