Mauritius Warns UK: Settle Chagos Deal Now or Face Court

Mauritius has issued its clearest warning yet to the United Kingdom over the long-delayed Chagos Islands agreement: resolve the dispute quickly or face legal proceedings. The Council of Ministers, meeting on 9 October, formally noted the outcome of a high-stakes meeting held in London on 2 October between Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and Jonathan Powell, the UK's National Security Adviser. The two men met one-on-one to discuss the future of the Chagos Archipelago — a group of islands in the Indian Ocean that includes Diego Garcia, home to a major joint UK-US military base. **What was said in London** Ramgoolam told Powell in direct terms that the current situation — in which a sovereignty agreement has been negotiated but not ratified — has become "totally untenable." Port Louis has repeatedly said it is the rightful sovereign of the Chagos Islands, a position backed by a 2019 International Court of Justice advisory opinion and a 2021 UN General Assembly resolution. While the Prime Minister reaffirmed that Mauritius prefers dialogue and diplomacy to break the deadlock, he was categorical: if a final and definitive resolution is not reached soon, Mauritius will have no choice but to initiate legal action. Ramgoolam also used his London visit to meet with the legal team preparing Mauritius's litigation strategy, signalling that the country is actively building its case rather than simply issuing an idle threat. **Background: Why is the deal stalled?** A draft agreement between Mauritius and the UK was announced in October 2024, under which the UK would recognise Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Islands in exchange for a long-term lease allowing the continued operation of the Diego Garcia military base — a facility considered strategically critical by both Washington and London. However, the deal has not been ratified. The change of government in the UK (with Keir Starmer's Labour government facing domestic political pressure) and reported pushback from the United States — particularly under the Trump administration — have kept the agreement in limbo for months. **What this means** For Mauritius, patience is running out. The government is now signalling a shift from diplomatic patience to legal assertiveness. Taking the matter to an international tribunal — such as the International Court of Justice or a UNCLOS arbitration panel — would be a significant escalation and could put renewed international pressure on both London and Washington to act. For the UK and US, a fresh legal challenge risks reopening the embarrassing chapter of how the Chagossian people were forcibly displaced from their homeland in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for the military base — a history that has already cost the UK considerable international credibility. For Mauritians, the Chagos question is both a matter of national sovereignty and symbolic justice. The outcome will also have economic implications: the draft deal reportedly included significant financial compensation and development commitments from the UK. Source: ION News