UK to Hand Over Chagos Islands to Mauritius in Landmark Deal

The UK is poised to sign a historic agreement with Mauritius to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, ending decades of dispute over the territory.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to attend a virtual handover ceremony, finalizing the deal after previous political delays. As part of the agreement, Britain will make a multibillion-pound payment to Mauritius while retaining access to the strategically important Diego Garcia military base, which is also used by the US. The move marks a significant shift in UK foreign policy and addresses longstanding calls for decolonization and justice for displaced Chagossians.

The deal is seen as a major step toward resolving one of the last major colonial-era disputes.