Britain is set to finalise a landmark agreement with Mauritius over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands after a London High Court judge overturned an injunction that had blocked the deal earlier on Thursday.
The interim injunction, granted in the early hours of the day, followed a legal challenge by Bertrice Pompe, a British national born in Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago. Pompe and other members of the Chagossian diaspora criticised the agreement for excluding them from consultations.
However, Justice Martin Chamberlain lifted the injunction after a later hearing, allowing the UK government to proceed with signing the multi-billion-pound deal, which includes a 99-year lease allowing Britain to retain control of the strategically vital Diego Garcia airbase.
Government counsel James Eadie told the court that a swift decision was critical to avoid jeopardising relations with key allies, particularly the United States. “The delay is damaging to British interests,” he said, noting that all parties involved were “standing by” to sign the agreement by midday GMT.
The proposed treaty, initially announced in October, transfers sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a former British colony, while ensuring continued UK and US military operations on the islands. Diego Garcia plays a central role in Western military strategy, having supported missions in Yemen, Gaza, and Afghanistan.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the deal, stating it was necessary to protect national security and preserve the UK’s international partnerships. “The legal challenge is an example of what we would face without this deal,” the spokesperson said.
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The Chagos Islands were detached from Mauritius by Britain in 1965, three years before Mauritius gained independence. The forced removal of the Chagossian population in the years that followed remains a source of legal and political contention.
Opposition politicians have criticised the deal as costly and poorly negotiated. Conservative foreign affairs spokeswoman Priti Patel condemned the agreement on social media, calling it “bad for our defence and security interests, bad for British taxpayers and bad for British Chagossians.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Britain will pay Mauritius £3 billion over the 99-year lease, with an option for a 50-year extension. The UK will retain the right of first refusal thereafter.
The United States has also signalled support for the deal. Former President Donald Trump endorsed the agreement after meeting Prime Minister Starmer in Washington in February, following the backing previously given by President Joe Biden.
The agreement is expected to be formally signed later today.
