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UK to cede Chagos sovereignty to Mauritius, lease 99 years

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 2:57 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will pursue a resolution to the Diego García base dispute.
The UK will cede Chagos sovereignty to Mauritius while retaining a 99-year lease on Diego García.
Britain will pay Mauritius £101 million annually, totaling about £3.4 billion.
U.S. President Donald Trump called the deal a “big mistake,” halting the implementing legislation.
Burnham arranged a UN foreign-minister meeting with Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, though no agreement exists yet.

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Story summary

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will pursue a resolution to the Diego García base dispute.
The UK will cede Chagos sovereignty to Mauritius while retaining a 99-year lease on Diego García.
Britain will pay Mauritius £101 million annually, totaling about £3.4 billion.
U.S. President Donald Trump called the deal a “big mistake,” halting the implementing legislation.
Burnham arranged a UN foreign-minister meeting with Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, though no agreement exists yet.