Negotiations between the UK and Mauritius over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands have hit a roadblock, with financial disagreements emerging as the key sticking point.
Under an initial agreement announced in October, the UK pledged to return sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while retaining a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia, home to a crucial UK-US military base. The deal also included financial aid and infrastructure investments, though the exact figures remain undisclosed.
However, the newly elected Mauritian government has raised concerns over the financial terms, with Deputy Prime Minister Paul Bérenger accusing the UK of quibbling over a relatively small sum. “This base exists on our land, on our territory… There are some things you can’t accept if you’re a true patriot,” Bérenger said during a public address.
While acknowledging Mauritius’s need for financial support to recover from economic challenges, Bérenger stressed that aid should not come “at any price, not under any conditions.”
Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam suggested urgency on the UK’s side, pointing to political timelines in the US. He claimed the UK is eager to finalize the treaty before Donald Trump potentially assumes the US presidency in January, given Trump’s Secretary of State pick, Marco Rubio, has openly criticized the deal as a threat to US security.
In the UK, the deal has sparked sharp criticism from the opposition Conservative Party. Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel accused the Labour government of undermining national security and failing to consider the interests of Chagossians.
“How much is the British taxpayer going to be liable for each year, and in total, over 99 years?” Patel asked in Parliament.
Responding to these concerns, Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty defended the agreement, asserting that it would safeguard the military base and ensure its long-term operational stability.
Despite ongoing tensions, both governments released a joint statement affirming their commitment to finalizing the treaty swiftly, highlighting “productive conversations” as negotiations continue.
The Chagos Islands dispute remains a deeply sensitive issue, carrying geopolitical, economic, and human rights implications that both nations must carefully navigate.
