{"id":2437944,"date":"2025-05-22T12:26:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T16:26:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uk-signs-agreement-to-hand-sovereignty-of-disputed-chagos-islands-to-mauritius\/"},"modified":"2025-05-22T12:29:54","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T16:29:54","slug":"uk-signs-agreement-to-hand-sovereignty-of-disputed-chagos-islands-to-mauritius","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uk-signs-agreement-to-hand-sovereignty-of-disputed-chagos-islands-to-mauritius\/","title":{"rendered":"UK signs agreement to hand sovereignty of disputed Chagos Islands to Mauritius"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fuk-signs-agreement-to-hand-sovereignty-of-disputed-chagos-islands-to-mauritius%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2437944&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>On Thursday, the UK signed an agreement transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a significant move tied to the future of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-strategic-disaster-uk-gives-african-nation-islands-that-contain-a-secretive-us-military-base\/\" title=\"&#039;A Strategic Disaster&#039;: ... Gives African Nation ... That Contain a Secretive US Military ...\">vital military base<\/a> used by the U.S. adn UK on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago. The deal, which includes a lease payment of \u00a3101 million ($136 million) annually for at least 99 years, strengthens UK national security efforts, as the base is crucial for counterterrorism operations.<\/p>\n<p>The agreement faced temporary delays due to a last-minute injunction sought by two Chagossian women representing the islands&#8217; original inhabitants, who were evicted to accommodate the base. Even though the injunction was lifted, the women&#8217;s concerns about losing their rights and the ability to return to their homeland remain unmet.<\/p>\n<p>The Chagos Islands have been under British control as 1814, with the UK previously splitting the islands from Mauritius in 1965 before the country&#8217;s independence. International organizations have urged the UK to return the islands to Mauritius, and the International Court of Justice has criticized Britain&#8217;s actions as unlawful.<\/p>\n<p>In recent discussions,the UK,now led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer,has reiterated the importance of the Diego Garcia base while negotiating with Mauritius. Critics, particularly from the opposition Conservative Party, have labeled the agreement as a surrender of British territory.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">UK signs agreement to hand sovereignty of disputed Chagos Islands to Mauritius<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p><strong>LONDON (AP) &mdash;<\/strong> Britain signed an agreement Thursday handing sovereignty over the contested and strategically located&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/chagos-islands-mauritius-uk-deal-diego-garcia-81d046b333b0af81489ed75543f9534b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Chagos Islands<\/a>&nbsp;to Mauritius, a move the government said ensures the future of a U.S.-U.K. military base that is vital to British security.<\/p>\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/chagos-britain-mauritius-american-base-diego-garcia-c5816d6b5cf79dedf4fc6b37376298f8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Indian Ocean archipelago<\/a>&nbsp;is home to a strategically important naval and bomber base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3419453\/kim-jong-un-furious-failed-launch-north-korean-warship\/\">Kim Jong Un furious over failed launch of North Korean warship, alleges &#8216;criminal act&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3418591\/romania-right-wing-election-annulled-foreign-influence-george-simion\/\">Romanian right wing demands election be annulled, citing &#8216;irrefutable evidence&#8217; of foreign influence<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3418454\/trump-south-africa-president-clash-video-white-farmer-genocide\/\">Trump shows video in Oval Office to South Africa&#8217;s president of white &#8216;burial sites&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Under the agreement, the United Kingdom will pay Mauritius 101 million pounds ($136 million) per year to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-hedge-fund-ancora-seeks-ouster-of-kohls-ceo-chairman\/\" title=\"Exclusive...Hedge fund Ancora seeks ouster of Kohl\u2019s CEO, chairman\">lease back<\/a> the base for at least 99 years.<\/p>\n<p>Starmer said the base, operated by U.S. forces, is crucial for British counterterrorism and intelligence and is &ldquo;right at the foundation of our safety and security at home.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The signing was delayed for several hours after a U.K. judge imposed a last-minute injunction blocking the transfer, which was later lifted by another judge.<\/p>\n<p>High Court Judge Martin Chamberlain said after a hearing on Thursday that an injunction barring the handover should be removed. He said &ldquo;the public interest and the interests of the United Kingdom would be substantially prejudiced&rdquo; if there were a further delay.<\/p>\n<p>The agreement was due to be signed by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam at a virtual ceremony on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n<p>However, a judge granted an injunction in the early hours of Thursday, blocking the British government from taking any &ldquo;conclusive or <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >legally binding step&#038;rdquo<\/a>; to hand the islands to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chinese-communist-party-database-leaks-proves-party-members-have-infiltrated-foreign-governments-and-major-companies\/\" title=\"Chinese Communist Party Data... Leaks, Proves Party Members Have Infiltrated Foreign ...s and Major Companies\">foreign government<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The injunction came in response to a claim by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/uk-chagos-islands-mauritius-deal-lawsuit-c8a4911f76e1ce2be4d4fdbcaa23786a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">two Chagossian women<\/a>&nbsp;representing the islands&rsquo; original residents, who were evicted decades ago to make way for the U.S. base. Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, both British citizens, expressed fear that returning to their birthplace would become even harder once Mauritius takes control of the islands.<\/p>\n<p>After the injunction was lifted, Pompe said it was &ldquo;a very sad day,&rdquo; but vowed to continue fighting.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We do not want to hand over our rights to Mauritius. We are not Mauritians,&rdquo; she said outside the High Court.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The rights we are asking for now, we have been fighting for for 60 years,&rdquo; she added. &ldquo;Mauritius is not going to give that to us.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>One of the last remnants of the British Empire, the Chagos Islands have been under British control since 1814. Britain split the islands away from Mauritius, a former British colony, in 1965, three years before Mauritius gained independence.<\/p>\n<p>Britain&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/politics-united-kingdom-states-government-human-rights-watch-london-ceec69da01789c3e321ddffc1085c23d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">evicted as many as 2,000 people<\/a>&nbsp;from the islands in the 1960s and 1970s so the U.S. military could build the Diego Garcia base, which has supported U.S. military operations from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<p>Displaced Chagossians have fought unsuccessfully in the U.K. courts for years for the right to go home. Under&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/uk-mauritius-chagos-diego-garcia-base-37d13bf54f9769f3621bd41d08a448f8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">the deal<\/a>, a resettlement fund would be created to help displaced islanders move back to the islands, apart from Diego Garcia. Details of any such measures remain unclear.<\/p>\n<p>Mauritius has long contested Britain&rsquo;s claim to the archipelago. In recent years, the United Nations and its top court have&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/general-news-f578fc42258b413c851922730de0d9be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">urged Britain to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius<\/a>, around 2,100 kilometers (1,250 miles) southwest of the islands.<\/p>\n<p>In a nonbinding 2019 opinion, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/general-news-f578fc42258b413c851922730de0d9be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">International Court of Justice ruled that the U.K. unlawfully carved up Mauritius<\/a>&nbsp;when it agreed to end colonial rule in the late 1960s.<\/p>\n<p>The British government said those rulings put the future of the Diego Garcia base, which is vital to U.K. security, at stake. Negotiations on handing the islands to Mauritius began in 2022 under the previous Conservative government and resumed after Starmer&rsquo;s Labour Party was elected in July.<\/p>\n<p>A draft agreement was struck in October, but was delayed by a change of government in Mauritius and reported quarrels over how much the U.K. should pay to lease the base.<\/p>\n<p>The U.K. also paused to consult the United States after the change of government in Washington. President Donald Trump&rsquo;s administration approved it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3418179\/european-union-united-kingdom-russia-sanctions-shadow-fleet-trump-putin-phone-call\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>EU AND UK ANNOUNCE NEW SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA AFTER TRUMP-PUTIN PHONE CALL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The U.K.&rsquo;s opposition Conservatives have criticized the deal, accusing the government of surrendering sovereignty over a British territory.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We should not be paying to surrender British territory to Mauritius,&rdquo; Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UK agrees to transfer sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius, securing a vital military base<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2634,"featured_media":2437945,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mauritius-chagos-islands.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[42642,55718,16828,51254],"class_list":["post-2437944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-chagos-islands","tag-mauritius","tag-sovereignty","tag-uk-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/mauritius-chagos-islands.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2437944","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2634"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2437944"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2437944\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2437948,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2437944\/revisions\/2437948"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2437945"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2437944"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2437944"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2437944"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}