ISLAMABAD : Mauritius has pledged to intensify efforts to reclaim control of the Chagos Islands after the UK government paused legislation to transfer sovereignty of the territory.
The decision came after British officials acknowledged they would not be able to pass the necessary legislation before the end of the current parliamentary session, amid a lack of support from the United States.
Mauritian Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful said his government remains committed to regaining the islands. “We will spare no effort to seize any diplomatic or legal avenue to complete the decolonisation process,” he said. “This is a matter of justice.”
The proposed agreement would have seen Britain return the islands to Mauritius while leasing back the strategically important Diego Garcia military base for 99 years.
However, the plan has been stalled following criticism from US President Donald Trump and delays in securing formal American approval.
Importance of the base
A UK government spokesperson stressed the importance of the base, stating: “Diego Garcia is a key strategic military asset for both the UK and the US. Ensuring its long-term operational security is, and will continue to be, our priority – it is the entire reason for the deal.”
“We continue to believe the agreement is the best way to protect the long-term future of the base, but we have always said we would only proceed with the deal if it has US support.”
Mauritius officials said they were not surprised by the delay, citing strained relations between London and Washington, and confirmed plans to continue diplomatic engagement with the UK to resolve the issue.
