WORLD · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
UK Proposes Handing Chagos Islands to Mauritius
WHY IT MATTERS
The proposed deal could pave the way for a resolution to the decades-long dispute over the Chagos Islands, potentially improving relations between the UK and Mauritius.
What happened
The UK government has proposed a deal to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, with plans to lease back a key military base. The move comes after US President Donald Trump expressed criticism of the 'terrible' deal.
The Chagos Islands have been a point of contention between the UK and Mauritius for decades, with the UK maintaining control over the islands since the 1960s. The proposed deal would see the UK transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius, with the UK retaining a lease on the military base.
The move is seen as a significant development in the long-standing dispute between the two nations.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Trump says he can do business with Burnham but criticises 'terrible' Chagos deal
BBC News · Discovery only; BBC syndication and copyright terms apply
CORRECTIONS & UPDATES
- Revision 1 · Initial ingestion · Sep 23, 2026, 1:45 AM
- Revision 2 · Source update detected · Sep 23, 2026, 1:45 AM