UK to Cede Chagos Sovereignty, Retain Diego Garcia Base

The United Kingdom is poised to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius under a historic and controversial deal expected to be signed as early as Thursday, according to multiple media reports and officials familiar with the matter.

The agreement will allow the UK to retain long-term access to the strategic Diego Garcia military base under a 99-year lease, securing continued use by both the UK and the United States. In return, the UK is expected to pay a multibillion-pound sum to Mauritius, with some reports placing the figure as high as £9 billion.

Strategic and Political Fallout

The handover has drawn sharp criticism from the Conservative opposition, with Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel calling it “a betrayal of our national interest by Labour, conveniently timed for the last day before parliamentary recess.” She added that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was “handing over our own sovereign territory to Mauritius, and then asking the British public to pay billions for the indignity of it”.

“This is a betrayal of our national interest by Labour, conveniently timed for the last day before parliamentary recess.”

— Priti Patel, the UK’s shadow foreign secretary

Labour officials countered that the deal was initiated under the previous Conservative administration and that the resolution aligns with international legal rulings. The agreement will still require ratification by the UK Parliament before becoming official.

US Endorsement Eases Friction

Despite initial unease among Washington policymakers, US President Donald Trump—who assumed office in November—offered support for the agreement during a February meeting with Starmer. A White House official noted, “The prerogative of President Trump is to secure long-term US operations from Diego Garcia”.

The US support proved pivotal, especially after concerns were raised by figures like former national security adviser Mike Waltz prior to his appointment.

A Colonial Legacy Nears Resolution

The Chagos Islands were detached from Mauritius by the UK in 1965, prior to the latter’s independence in 1968, to form the British Indian Ocean Territory. The move has been a subject of international legal disputes, including a 2019 UN court advisory ruling that called on the UK to end its administration of the islands.

The upcoming deal is seen as a diplomatic breakthrough in resolving decades of contested sovereignty, though many observers remain concerned about the broader strategic and financial implications for Britain.