UK Signs £ 101 m-a-Year Deal to Hand Over Chagos Islands

In a significant diplomatic move, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has signed an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while securing a long-term lease for the strategic Diego Garcia military base. Under the terms of the deal, the UK will pay Mauritius £101 million annually for 99 years, totaling approximately £3.4 billion after adjusting for inflation. This arrangement ensures continued UK and US military operations on Diego Garcia, a crucial asset for national security.

The Chagos Islands were purchased by the UK in 1968. Still, Mauritius has long contested the legitimacy of this acquisition, arguing that it was coerced into ceding the territory during its independence negotiations. In the 1970s, the UK forcibly removed the Chagossian population to make way for the military base, leading to ongoing disputes over their right to return.

The agreement was finalized after overcoming a legal challenge from two Chagossian individuals. Prime Minister Starmer emphasized that the deal was essential to prevent other nations, particularly China, from establishing military footholds in the region. The UK will retain veto power over any foreign military or civilian access to the islands, with a 24-mile exclusion zone around Diego Garcia.

The treaty will come into effect once approved by both the UK and Mauritian parliaments, marking a new chapter in the complex history of the Chagos Islands.