What is the Chagos Islands deal between UK and Mauritius? | BBC News

The UK has signed a £3.4bn ($4.6bn) deal to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while retaining control of a UK-US military base on Diego Garcia - the largest of the islands.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the 99-year agreement to lease back Diego Garcia will cost the UK £101m a year, and is necessary to protect the base from "malign influence".

Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam said the agreement completed "the total process of decolonisation".

But UK opposition leaders - and some Chagossians now residing in the UK - have criticised the deal.

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Post from BBC News on May 23, 2025

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