Britain blocked from closing Chagos Islands deal
LONDON—Britain’s government has been temporarily banned from concluding the Chagos Islands deal with Mauritius—which include the future of a US-UK defense base—by an injunction granted by a High Court judge on Thursday.
Earlier reports said Britain was set to sign the deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while also securing the future of the Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean.
The deal would allow Britain to retain control of the base on Diego Garcia, the largest island of the archipelago in the Indian Ocean, under a 99-year lease.
Thursday’s last-minute injunction was granted following action taken by Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, both British nationals who were born in Diego Garcia.
Virtual signing ceremony
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was due to join a virtual signing ceremony with representatives from the Mauritian government.
In 1965 Britain detached the Chagos Islands from Mauritius—a former colony that became independent three years later—to create the British Indian Ocean Territory.
