London, January 13
The United Kingdom and Mauritius have reported progress in discussions over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, including provisions for the U.S.-British military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Indian Ocean chain.
Under a deal agreed in October, Britain committed to transferring control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining a 99-year lease on the Diego Garcia military base. The agreement, yet to be ratified, has sparked criticism from key figures, including Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, who has called for renegotiation.
The British government has defended the agreement as fair to all parties. Reports suggest the UK has offered upfront payments to Mauritius as part of the lease arrangement for the strategically critical base, which supports U.S. military operations.
In a joint statement on Monday, the two countries acknowledged progress in the negotiations, emphasizing their shared commitment to reaching an agreement. “Both countries reiterated their commitment to concluding a treaty providing that Mauritius is sovereign over the Chagos Archipelago and ensuring the long-term, secure operation of the base on Diego Garcia,” the statement read.
The deal has also drawn criticism from U.S. officials. Marco Rubio, the incoming Secretary of State under President-elect Donald Trump, warned that transferring sovereignty to Mauritius, which maintains ties with China, could undermine U.S. security.
Chagossian community groups have protested their exclusion from the talks, describing it as a violation of their rights. Community organization Chagossian Voices said, “Exclusion from the talks constitutes a flagrant abuse of our human rights.”UK, Mauritius Advance Chagos Sovereignty Talks
