Ongoing diplomatic negotiations between Mauritius and the United Kingdom regarding the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago have gained renewed momentum, according to statements made by Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful to the Press Trust of India.
The talks come in the wake of a landmark agreement reached in October 2024, in which the UK signaled its willingness to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Under the proposed arrangement, London would retain control of the Diego Garcia military facility—an island within the archipelago—under a 99-year lease. The base is jointly operated by the UK and the United States and is considered a critical strategic asset in the Indian Ocean.
Foreign Minister Ramful emphasized that reaching a final agreement on the future of the Chagos Islands serves the shared interests of Mauritius, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. “It’s in the interest of all parties—Mauritius, India, the UK, and the US—to reach a definitive agreement on the Chagos issue,” he said. “This would bring much-needed stability, clarity, and long-term certainty regarding the operational status of Diego Garcia.”
The Chagos Islands have long been at the center of an international legal and geopolitical dispute. Mauritius has consistently argued that the territory was unlawfully separated from its territory by the UK prior to independence in 1968. In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a non-binding advisory opinion stating that the UK should end its administration of the islands and return them to Mauritius. The United Nations General Assembly later endorsed the ruling with an overwhelming majority vote.
According to Ramful, although the Chagos deal was originally brokered before Mauritius’ general elections in November 2024, the newly elected government opted to re-examine the terms to ensure alignment with national interests. “Our struggle to restore sovereignty over Chagos has been a long and principled one. It is encouraging that the UK has now come to the negotiating table with a willingness to resolve the matter,” he added.
The diplomatic effort has also gained international attention. During a recent meeting at the White House in late February, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reportedly discussed the deal with U.S. President Donald Trump, who signaled likely approval of the sovereignty transfer, provided the strategic operations at Diego Garcia remain uninterrupted.
As talks continue, observers say a finalized agreement would not only resolve a decades-long colonial dispute but also mark a historic moment in post-colonial restitution and geopolitical cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
