London and Washington attempt to forge a new neocolonial reality using old tactics, and at the expense of other nations

The Chagos Islands ©  Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The UK and Mauritius have signed an agreement to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius. Under the terms of the deal, London will relinquish control of the archipelago – which hosts a joint US-UK military base on its territory – but will retain authority over its largest island, Diego Garcia, under a 99-year lease in exchange for financial assistance.

According to The Guardian, the administration of US President Donald Trump, which was consulted on the deal, has approved it.

“The strategic location of this base is of the utmost significance to Britain, from deploying aircraft to defeat terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan to anticipating threats in the Red Sea and the Indo-Pacific,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced.

What is the Chagos Archipelago? 

News of the UK’s decision to return the strategically significant Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius first became known on October 3, 2024. The long-awaited decision came after years of negotiations with Mauritian officials, involving 13 rounds of discussions, and was made amid intense debates and international pressure.