A senior civil servant of Indian origin is facing criticism on X (formerly Twitter) following the negotiation of a deal concerning the Chagos Archipelago. The agreement, which involves the transfer of sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while securing a long-term lease for the U.S.-UK military base on Diego Garcia, has ignited a firestorm of debate.
The deal, finalized in October 2024, allows the UK to maintain control of the Diego Garcia military base while granting sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius. The UK would lease the site from Mauritius for about $135 million a year for 99 years. However, it has been met with strong opposition from various corners. Critics argue the agreement inadequately addresses the rights of the Chagossian people, who were forcibly removed from the islands in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for the U.S. military base. Chagossian activists submitted a legal submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council in June 2025, challenging the legitimacy of the UK-Mauritius deal, arguing that it was negotiated without their consent and perpetuates historical injustices.
Adding fuel to the fire, Donald Trump criticized Britain's plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. In a post last week, Trump stated that the move would signal "total weakness" to China and Russia. Lawmakers have paused the deal, citing geopolitical tensions and concerns it would undermine security arrangements with the U.S.
Philippe Sands, an international lawyer, has played a pivotal role in advocating for Mauritius' claim to the islands. Sands' involvement in the legal arguments and Starmer's past ties to Mauritius have raised questions about the motivations behind the deal. Sands remains a trusted ally of Starmer, and in 2023, Sands outlined a legal argument that the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) could rule that UK-US telecommunications operations in Chagos are unlawful. This argument has been used by Starmer's government to justify the deal, claiming that without an agreement with Mauritius, the future operation of the Diego Garcia military base would be at risk.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel has condemned the move as the end of more than 200 years of British sovereignty in the region. Concerns have also been raised that Mauritius might allow China to build a base on one of the other islands. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether nuclear weapons would be permitted at Diego Garcia under Mauritian ownership, given the nuclear weapons-free zone treaty.
The British government insists it remains committed to the agreement, calling the Diego Garcia base vital to national security and regional stability. However, the deal is currently on hold and will be brought up in Parliament again. The controversy highlights the complex interplay of sovereignty, security, and human rights in the Chagos Archipelago dispute.
