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Pope Leo XIV Backs Controversial UK-Mauritius Chagos Treaty

8/24/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Pope Leo XIV praised the UK-Mauritius treaty on the Chagos Islands as a major win for exiled Chagossians.
The UK will pay Mauritius £101 million each year to lease the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years.
Critics, including Tory officials, claim the deal could burden UK taxpayers with £35 billion and complicate the return of displaced islanders.

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Story summary

Pope Leo XIV praised the UK-Mauritius treaty on the Chagos Islands as a major win for exiled Chagossians.
The UK will pay Mauritius £101 million each year to lease the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years.
Critics, including Tory officials, claim the deal could burden UK taxpayers with £35 billion and complicate the return of displaced islanders.