Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has expressed optimism regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments supporting the agreement between Mauritius and the United Kingdom concerning the Chagos Islands. The deal, which was established in October 2024, sees the UK ceding sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius while maintaining control of Diego Garcia, a strategically significant military base, under a 99-year lease. This development marks a significant shift in the decades-long sovereignty dispute over the Chagos Islands, which had been a point of contention between Mauritius, the UK, and the United States.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Following a meeting between President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on February 27, 2025, Trump indicated his willingness to back the agreement, providing a rare moment of alignment between the United States and Mauritius. Ramgoolam welcomed these comments, describing them as “positive.” However, he emphasized that while the remarks were encouraging, final proposals are still awaited, and further negotiations are necessary to fully assess the impact of the deal. The U.S. has long maintained a military presence in Diego Garcia, and the future of the base has been a key factor in the ongoing discussions about the islands’ sovereignty.
The Chagos Islands issue has deep historical and political roots, with Mauritius, a former British colony, having gained independence in 1968 while the UK retained control of the Chagos Archipelago. In 1971, the United States established the military base on Diego Garcia, which has since played a crucial role in the region’s geopolitical and military strategy, particularly in relation to U.S. operations in the Middle East and the Indian Ocean.
The agreement, which has sparked various reactions from the international community, has been praised by some and criticized by others. India has voiced its support for the deal, framing it as an essential step in completing the decolonization of Mauritius. The agreement is seen by some as a means to correct the historical wrong of the forced removal of the Chagossian people from the islands in the 1960s and 1970s, when the British government relocated them to make way for the U.S. military base.
However, the deal has also faced significant opposition. Many Chagossians, particularly those who were displaced and are now living in the UK, have expressed concerns about the terms of the agreement and the potential impact on their rights under Mauritian governance. The relocation of the Chagossian people from their homeland remains one of the most contentious aspects of the entire sovereignty dispute. Some critics argue that the agreement does not adequately address the historical injustices suffered by the Chagossians or guarantee their full rights and compensation.
Further complicating the situation is the continued opposition from certain factions within the UK, particularly members of the Conservative Party, who argue that ceding sovereignty over the islands is not in the country’s best interest. This includes concerns about the future of the military base on Diego Garcia, which is considered a vital strategic asset for U.S. and UK military operations in the Indian Ocean and beyond. Some British lawmakers fear that conceding control of the Chagos Islands could undermine the UK’s military presence and its influence in the region.
Internationally, the Chagos Islands dispute has been a subject of legal and diplomatic battles for years. In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion declaring that the continued British administration of the Chagos Islands was unlawful and called for their return to Mauritius. Despite this ruling, the UK continued to maintain control over the islands, and the issue remained unresolved until the recent agreement was proposed. The United Nations General Assembly had also called for the return of the islands to Mauritius, further complicating the diplomatic landscape.
The agreement reached between Mauritius and the UK in 2024 is seen as a potential breakthrough in the dispute, although it still requires final approval and the resolution of several key issues. Prime Minister Ramgoolam has remained cautiously optimistic about the deal, expressing hope that the support from the U.S. government will help to bring the matter to a close. However, he continues to await the detailed proposals that will outline how the transition of sovereignty will be carried out and how the concerns of displaced Chagossians will be addressed.
As negotiations move forward, the future of the Chagos Islands remains uncertain, and the geopolitical implications of the agreement will likely continue to resonate across the region. For Mauritius, this deal represents a step toward reclaiming its territorial integrity, while for the UK and the U.S., the challenge will be balancing the interests of national security with the demands of international law and human rights. With further discussions expected, all eyes will remain on how this complex issue unfolds in the coming months.
(Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian; Writing by Portia Crowe; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
