Chagos Deal Reset: UK Seeks New Agreement Backed by Washington

The United Kingdom is working to negotiate a new agreement on the restitution of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius — one that would have the explicit support of the United States, according to a report by Le Défi Media. The move signals a significant reset in diplomatic efforts after the original deal, agreed in principle in 2024 under the previous UK Conservative government and continued under Labour, stalled following opposition from Washington. The Trump administration made clear it was unwilling to accept terms that could compromise US military interests in the region. **Why the Chagos Islands matter** The Chagos Archipelago is a remote group of islands in the Indian Ocean, administered by the UK as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). At its heart is Diego Garcia, home to a major joint US-UK military base that plays a strategic role in operations across the Middle East, South Asia, and East Africa. Mauritius has long claimed sovereignty over the islands, arguing they were illegally separated from its territory by Britain in 1965 — before Mauritius gained independence in 1968. In 2024, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion supporting Mauritius's legal position. A preliminary deal was struck that would have seen the UK formally return sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius, while retaining the right to operate the Diego Garcia base under a long-term lease. **Why the original deal collapsed** The stumbling block was the United States. The Trump administration expressed concern that handing sovereignty to Mauritius — which has historically maintained close ties with China — could create a security vulnerability at Diego Garcia. Washington's position effectively froze progress on the agreement, leaving London in a diplomatic bind. **What London is now trying to do** Rather than abandon the deal entirely, the UK is now seeking to redesign it in a way that brings Washington on board. That means renegotiating terms — likely around security guarantees, access rights, and the role of third parties at or near the base — to satisfy US strategic concerns while still meeting Mauritius's core demand for sovereignty recognition. **What this means for Mauritius** For Port Louis, this is both an opportunity and a risk. A US-backed deal would carry far more durability and international legitimacy than one Washington opposed. But it could also mean Mauritius is asked to accept more restrictive conditions on how it exercises sovereignty — particularly around who can access the islands and under what circumstances. The Mauritian government has consistently maintained that sovereignty over the Chagos Islands is a matter of national rights and international law, not just geopolitics. How much flexibility Port Louis is willing to show in this new round of negotiations remains to be seen. No timeline has been confirmed for when revised talks might produce a formal agreement. Source: Le Défi Media