Controversy Over UK-Mauritius Deal on Chagos Islands Sovereignty and Diego Garcia
US President Donald Trump has criticized a deal between the UK and Mauritius to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The agreement, signed in May 2025, allows the UK to lease back Diego Garcia—home to a vital US military base—for at least 99 years. Trump described the move as an act of 'stupidity' that weakens Western security and risks interference from China and Russia. The Chagos Islands have been a point of contention since the 1960s, when the UK evicted thousands of islanders to make way for the US base.
Key Points
- The UK-Mauritius deal aims to resolve a long-standing sovereignty dispute while securing the future of the Diego Garcia military base.
- The UN and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have previously urged Britain to return the islands to Mauritius.
- Critics of the deal argue that Mauritius's close ties with other global powers could jeopardize the strategic utility of the base.
- Displaced Chagossians continue to seek compensation and the right to return to their ancestral lands.
- The US government initially welcomed the agreement as securing the long-term operation of the joint facility.
Exam Facts
- The UK-Mauritius deal includes a 99-year lease for the Diego Garcia base.
- The Chagos Archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean.
- Over 10,000 displaced Chagossians and their descendants live primarily in Britain, Mauritius, and the Seychelles.
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