The United Kingdom is finalising a deal to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after securing approval from US President Donald Trump, a British government spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.
Under the agreement, Britain will transfer sovereignty of the archipelago to its former colony while securing a long-term lease for the US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island.
Although Britain and Mauritius initially announced the agreement late last year, they acknowledged that Trump’s incoming administration would have a say on the terms. His endorsement during a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House in February paved the way for the final stages of negotiations.
“You will have seen from the president that he recognised the strength of the deal,” said Starmer’s official spokesperson.
“I think we are now working with the Mauritian government to finalise the deal and sign the treaty,” the spokesman added.
“My understanding is it’s now between us and the Mauritian government to finalise the deal, following the discussions with the US.”
The base on Diego Garcia is a vital US military facility in the Asia-Pacific, playing a key role in operations during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is currently leased to the United States and serves as a hub for bombers and naval forces.
Starmer has defended the agreement, arguing that international legal rulings have cast doubt on Britain’s claim to the Chagos Islands. He insists that only a formal treaty with Mauritius can guarantee the continued operation of the military base.
Britain retained control of the Chagos Islands after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s, but forcibly evicted thousands of Chagossians, sparking decades of legal battles and calls for compensation. In 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled that the UK should return the islands to Mauritius.
Under the proposed deal, Britain would secure a 99-year lease for the base, with an option to extend. While the UK government has not disclosed the lease cost, reports suggest it could be £90 million ($111 million) per year.
Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has stated that his country would continue to push for full sovereignty over the islands if the US had opposed their return.
