UK drops plans to give Chagos Islands back to Mauritius

The United Kingdom has reportedly abandoned its plan to return the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius, causing concerns and prompting Mauritius to reconsider its strategy.

The reason behind this decision is the fear that transferring the islands, which are an ally of China, could jeopardise the UK’s “special relationship” with the United States due to the strategic military base on Diego Garcia.

Grant Shapps, the Secretary of Defense, is particularly concerned about the proposed “Cyprus-style” agreement, where sovereignty is transferred to Mauritius while the UK retains control of the military base.

The UK’s reversal on the Chagos restitution project comes after discussions of a £2 billion payment or leasing options for the base.

Source: The Telegraph