Mauritius has pledged to intensify efforts to regain control of the Chagos Islands after a proposed agreement with the United Kingdom collapsed, shifting support from the United States. Speaking at a regional conference, Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful said the government would pursue “every diplomatic and legal avenue” to complete what it describes as the unfinished decolonization of Chagos Islands. “This is a matter of justice,” he stressed. The now-stalled deal, backed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, would have transferred sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while allowing the United States and UK to retain control of the strategically critical Diego Garcia under a proposed 99-year lease.
However, the plan unraveled after support from Donald Trump reportedly weakened, forcing London to halt the legislation. The base on Diego Garcia is a key military hub for U.S. operations in the Indian Ocean and Middle East, making Washington’s backing essential. In Britain, the proposal faced strong political opposition. Critics, including Kemi Badenoch, welcomed the collapse and raised concerns over the reported £35 billion cost of the arrangement, while others have called for an investigation into how the negotiations were handled.
The dispute over the Chagos Islands has long been a contentious issue. In 2019, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion supporting Mauritius’ claim to sovereignty and calling on the UK to end its administration of the territory, adding international legal pressure on London. Despite the setback, UK officials maintain that the proposed deal remains the most viable way to secure the future of the Diego Garcia base while addressing Mauritius’ claims, though they acknowledge progress is unlikely without U.S. approval. For Mauritius, the issue remains central to its foreign policy, with authorities signaling that diplomatic and legal efforts will continue until sovereignty over the islands is restored.
