Story perspectives

UK reviews Chagos sovereignty deal after Trump objections

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 10:14 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

UK government announced it is reviewing the Chagos Islands sovereignty transfer agreement.
President Donald Trump’s opposition prompted the review.
Officials stress the need to guarantee the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia.
The pact would have transferred Chagos sovereignty to Mauritius while UK paid £101 million ($136 million) annually to lease Diego Garcia.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the UK must work with allies to craft a U.S.-backed version of the deal.

History

Historical Context

After Britain detached the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965 to form the British Indian Ocean Territory, it expelled roughly 1,000 Chagossians and, in 1971, leased Diego Garcia to the United States for a 99-year military base. An International Court of Justice advisory in 2019 called the separation illegal, leading to a 2025 treaty to cede sovereignty to Mauritius, which the Trump administration opposed in 2026.

1 of 2

Story summary

UK government announced it is reviewing the Chagos Islands sovereignty transfer agreement.
President Donald Trump’s opposition prompted the review.
Officials stress the need to guarantee the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia.
The pact would have transferred Chagos sovereignty to Mauritius while UK paid £101 million ($136 million) annually to lease Diego Garcia.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the UK must work with allies to craft a U.S.-backed version of the deal.

1 / 2