Chagos, Document: Mauritius-United Kingdom Agreement

On Thursday, May 22, 2025, Mauritius and the United Kingdom signed a landmark agreement formally recognizing Mauritius's full sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. In return, Mauritius has granted the UK permission to continue operating the military base on Diego Garcia, in cooperation with the United States, for an initial period of 99 years, renewable.

Under the agreement, Mauritius retains land ownership of the island and certain sovereign rights—such as over natural resources, environmental stewardship, and civil activities—while the UK remains responsible for the security and military operations of the base. The agreement also makes provisions for the potential resettlement of Chagossians on other islands in the archipelago, excluding Diego Garcia.

Economically, the UK has committed to paying an annual fee to Mauritius, establishing a trust fund for the benefit of the Chagossian people, and financing development projects over a 25-year period. The agreement prohibits the construction of artificial islands and upholds international legal standards, particularly in environmental matters.

A joint commission will be established to oversee implementation of the agreement, with a dispute resolution mechanism in place in case of non-compliance. The agreement settles all remaining disputes between the two countries regarding the archipelago.

The signed agreement is available below:

Diego Garcia Lease to Cost Rs 6.2 Billion Annually

In a press release issued on Thursday, May 22, the British government announced that the lease for the use of the Chagos Archipelago will amount to £101 million per year—approximately Rs 6.2 billion.

The total net value of the payments under the treaty is expected to reach £3.4 billion, the statement added.

The UK government also confirmed that Diego Garcia will continue to serve as a military base, and that the agreement has been endorsed by the Five Eyes alliance—the intelligence-sharing partnership comprising the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Chagos: Ramgoolam and Bérenger Unveil the Terms of the Agreement

The Prime Minister and his Deputy Prime Minister announced the signing of the agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius on sovereignty over the Chagos Islands during a press briefing on Thursday, May 22.