The British government has formally transferred control of the strategically significant Chagos Islands to Mauritius, following a highly contentious and multi-billion-pound deal that survived an eleventh-hour legal challenge. The move comes after months of criticism from both sides of the Atlantic, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirming the transfer would close Britain’s last colonial outpost on the continent.
As part of the package, Britain will pay £101 million ($135 million) annually to Mauritius for a total cost of £3.4 billion ($4.5 billion). The deal maintains control of the US-UK Diego Garcia military base, which Starmer described as “one of the most significant contributions” to the UK’s security relationship with the United States.
However, critics argue that Britain has paid billions to lose control of a territory and that Mauritius’ reliance on imports from China raises national security concerns. The deal was widely criticized by allies of Starmer and US President Donald Trump, who saw its strategic importance and potential risks to British interests.
The UK’s negotiations with Mauritius were convoluted and controversial, right up until the hours before they were agreed. Grant Shapps, a former Conservative defense minister, described the plan as “insane,” warning that China could use the territory to expand its influence and spy on sensitive British military bases.
Two Chagossian women who challenged the deal in court expressed frustration at being denied their rights as British citizens. They argued that they had been fighting for 60 years and were not consulted by the government before negotiations with Mauritius began.
The transfer of control marks a significant shift in Britain’s colonial legacy, following an advisory ruling from the International Court of Justice in 2019 that called for the decolonization of the islands in a manner consistent with self-determination.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/22/uk/britain-chagos-islands-transfer-block-intl