The United Kingdom’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has encountered delays as discussions with the United States continue. This development follows an agreement signed in May 2025, which included retaining control of the Diego Garcia military base under a 99-year lease [1][2].
The agreement, signed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, stipulated an annual payment of approximately £101 million to Mauritius for the lease of Diego Garcia [2][3]. A High Court injunction briefly blocked the UK from concluding the deal in May 2025, but the injunction was later lifted, allowing the agreement to proceed [4][5].
In February 2026, Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer informed Parliament that the UK was pausing the process for discussions with American counterparts [3]. However, government sources later clarified that there was no formal pause, and that timings would be announced in the usual manner [1][3].
Mauritius has expressed its intention to pursue legal action over the delays in ratifying the agreement. Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam indicated that the country might sue the UK if the process is not expedited [6].
What Is Known
The UK signed an agreement in May 2025 to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while retaining control of the Diego Garcia military base under a long-term lease [1][2]. The agreement includes financial compensation to Mauritius for the lease [2].
A High Court injunction temporarily blocked the agreement in 2025, but it was subsequently lifted [4][5]. In February 2026, a UK minister stated that the process was paused for discussions with the U.S., although this was later contradicted by government sources [3].
What Remains Unclear
It remains unclear whether the UK has formally paused the ratification process, as conflicting statements have been made by government officials [1][3]. The outcome of Mauritius’s potential legal action and its impact on the agreement’s timeline also remain uncertain [6].
This article was generated by Bluxle's AI system based on research from multiple news sources. All facts are sourced and cited below. The AI is designed to be neutral and fact-based with no editorial opinion.
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