UK Reviews Chagos Deal as Mauritius Holds Firm on Sovereignty

The United Kingdom is studying a potential revision of its agreement over the Chagos Islands, according to a report by Le Défi Media — but Mauritius is making clear that any renegotiation cannot come at the cost of its sovereign rights over the archipelago. **Where things stand** The Chagos Islands, officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), have been at the centre of a long-running sovereignty dispute between Mauritius and the United Kingdom. The archipelago was controversially detached from Mauritius by Britain in 1965, three years before Mauritian independence, in a move that international courts and the United Nations have since declared unlawful. After years of diplomatic pressure and landmark rulings — including a 2019 International Court of Justice advisory opinion and a 2021 UN General Assembly resolution demanding the UK return the islands — the two countries entered into formal negotiations. A draft agreement was reached in principle in October 2024, under which Mauritius would gain sovereignty over the Chagos Islands while the UK and US would retain the right to operate the strategic Diego Garcia military base for an initial period of 99 years. **London signals a rethink** Reports now indicate that the UK government, under pressure from domestic political opposition and allies — most notably the United States under the Trump administration — is exploring whether the terms of that deal can be revised. Washington has previously expressed reservations about any arrangement that could affect the long-term security of the Diego Garcia base, one of the most strategically important military installations in the Indian Ocean. The prospect of a British review has raised concerns in Port Louis that the hard-won agreement could be watered down or delayed indefinitely. **Mauritius holds its position** The Mauritian government has responded firmly. Officials in Port Louis have reiterated that the country's sovereignty over the Chagos Islands is not a bargaining chip and will not be traded away regardless of pressure from London or Washington. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has previously described the return of the Chagos Islands as a matter of national integrity and historical justice. This position was also recently reaffirmed at the United Nations, where Mauritius told the international community that its claim to the archipelago remains absolute and non-negotiable. **What this means** For Mauritius, the stakes go beyond territory. Full sovereignty over the Chagos Islands would mean control of a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Indian Ocean, access to fishing rights, and a significant geopolitical elevation for the small island nation. The estimated lease payments from the UK and US for continued use of Diego Garcia would also represent a major revenue stream. For ordinary Mauritians, and for the Chagossian community — many of whom were forcibly displaced from the islands in the late 1960s and early 1970s — the outcome of these negotiations is deeply personal. Any backtracking by the UK will be seen not just as a diplomatic setback, but as a continuation of a historical injustice. Negotiations between the two governments are ongoing, with senior British and Mauritian officials continuing to meet. How far London is willing to push for revised terms — and whether Mauritius will hold its line — will define one of the most consequential diplomatic stories in the region this year. Source: Le Défi Media