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Mauritius Tells UK It Will Wait Until end-July for Chagos Deal
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 23, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 23, 2026
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Mauritius has set an end‑July deadline for the UK to finalise the sovereignty handover of the Chagos Islands, citing lack of clarity over U.S. approval following strong objections from President Trump.
Mauritius Waits Until July for UK Chagos Deal Amid US Objections
Negotiations and Geopolitical Tensions Over Chagos Islands
Background of the Chagos Islands Dispute
PORT LOUIS, April 23 (Reuters) - Mauritius said it would wait up to the end of July for Britain to finalise a deal to hand over the Chagos Islands after London put the agreement on hold following objections from U.S. President Donald Trump.
A British delegation met Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam on Wednesday in their first talks since the UK paused the deal, which would cede sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius while retaining use of the U.S.-British military base on Diego Garcia island.
Uncertainty Over US Approval
In comments to the national broadcaster after the talks, Attorney General Gavin Glover said Mauritius had no visibility on whether the U.S. government would ultimately give the required approval for the deal to move ahead.
"We will give them until the end of July," Glover said on Wednesday. "We will wait until then, and at that point, the Mauritian government will have to decide on the way forward depending on what happens in the United Kingdom.”
Potential Next Steps for Mauritius
It was unclear what steps Mauritius might consider and what leverage it would have on an issue that has caught Trump's eye and become part of a wider geopolitical power-play.
US and UK Military Interests in Diego Garcia
Trump’s Position on the Chagos Deal
Trump said in February that the deal was a "big mistake" after having previously said it was the best that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer would get.
Military Operations and Strategic Importance
U.S.-led operations launched from Diego Garcia include bombing strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in 2024 and 2025, humanitarian aid deployments to Gaza and attacks against Taliban and al Qaeda targets in Afghanistan in 2001.
Iran fired two missiles at Diego Garcia last month, media reported, but did not hit the base.
Geographical and Demographic Details
The Chagos' six main atolls, among more than 600 islands, lie about 500 km (300 miles) south of the Maldives and halfway between Africa and Indonesia, with about 4,000 people stationed there.
Historical Context and Compensation
Britain forcibly displaced up to 2,000 indigenous Chagossians in the late 1960s and 1970s to establish the base on the Diego Garcia atoll, but had last year agreed to give sovereignty to former colony Mauritius while paying 101 million pounds ($136 million) per year to secure the installation.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Jean Paul Arouff; Writing by Vincent Mumo Nzilani; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Key Takeaways
- •Mauritius will wait until end‑July for UK to finalise Chagos sovereignty deal before deciding next steps (Mauritian AG)
- •The UK paused ratification amid U.S. President Trump’s criticism despite earlier U.S. support for the agreement
- •Diego Garcia remains strategically vital—recently targeted by Iran’s attempted missile strike in March 2026
Frequently Asked Questions about Mauritius tells UK it will wait until end-July for Chagos deal
1What is the current status of the Chagos Islands sovereignty deal?
Mauritius is waiting until the end of July for the UK to finalize a deal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, after the agreement was paused following objections from the US.
2Why did the UK put the Chagos deal on hold?
The UK paused the Chagos sovereignty agreement due to objections from US President Donald Trump, who called the deal a 'big mistake.'
3What is the significance of Diego Garcia island?
Diego Garcia island houses a key US-British military base, used for military operations and humanitarian efforts, and plays a strategic role in US-led operations in the region.
4How much is the UK paying Mauritius under the proposed deal?
The UK agreed to pay Mauritius 101 million pounds ($136 million) per year to secure continued use of the Diego Garcia base as part of the sovereignty transfer deal.
5What historical events led to the displacement of Chagossians?
Britain forcibly displaced up to 2,000 indigenous Chagossians in the late 1960s and 1970s to establish the military base on Diego Garcia.
