Overview

• The UK government will transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining a 99-year lease on the Diego Garcia military base, crucial for Western defence operations.
• A High Court injunction, granted early Thursday morning following a legal challenge by Chagossian claimant Bertrice Pompe, temporarily blocked the signing of the agreement.
• The injunction was lifted later in the day, allowing Prime Minister Keir Starmer to move forward with the virtual signing ceremony and subsequent parliamentary briefing.
• The deal follows international legal rulings, including a 2019 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice, which deemed UK control of the islands unlawful.
• Critics express concerns over potential Chinese influence via Mauritius, while the UK and US emphasize the strategic importance of Diego Garcia for regional security.