Description: The UK Government concluded the agreement with Mauritius to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands after an abrupt setback by UK’s High Court. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the conclusion which would bind the UK to pay Mauritius $136 million annually for the maintenance of the Diego Garcia military based located on the island, which remained under UK’s control. The base represents a key strategic point in the Indian Ocean impacting US and UK’s military and intelligence operations. The agreement was contested by Chagos natives who under the British colonial rule were evicted from the island in order for the military base to be constructed.
Impact: The Chagos Islands agreement emphasizes the regional close strategic ties between the UK and the US and reinforces their presence and influence in the Indian Ocean. The Diego Garcia military base was recently used as a launchpad for US attacks against Yemen’s Houthis and represents a key geostrategic point for countering Chinese influence in the region, which has longstanding trade relations with Mauritius and exercises increased levels of soft power influence over its government. The Diego Garcia military and naval base is also vital as an operational hub for countering Iran in the region, as the conclusion of the deal comes a day before the US and Iran engage in the fifth round of nuclear negotiations.