Mauritius has said it will wait until the end of July 2026 for the United Kingdom to conclude a long-delayed agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, as uncertainty continues to surround the deal, Reuters reported.
The deadline was confirmed after talks between Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and a British delegation, marking the first formal engagement since London paused the agreement earlier this month. Attorney General Gavin Glover said Mauritius would “wait until the end of July” before deciding its next course of action.
The deal, initially agreed in 2025, would see the UK hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago while retaining access to the strategically important Diego Garcia military base under a long-term lease arrangement. However, the process has stalled after opposition from the United States, whose approval is critical due to its joint military presence on the island.
The situation has become entangled in wider geopolitical tensions, with Washington’s shifting stance, particularly under President Donald Trump raising doubts about whether the agreement can proceed. Britain has indicated it will not finalise the deal without U.S. backing, further delaying ratification.
The Chagos Islands dispute, which dates back decades and involves the displacement of indigenous Chagossians during the creation of the military base, remains one of the most sensitive sovereignty issues between the UK and Mauritius. The end-July deadline now sets a critical window for diplomatic resolution, with significant implications for regional security and international law.
