Mauritius–United Kingdom relations
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mauritius–United Kingdom relations are the bilateral relations between the Republic of Mauritius and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
 Mauritius |
 United Kingdom |
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The UK governed Mauritius from 1810 to 1968, when Mauritius achieved full independence.
Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth of Nations, the International Criminal Court, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization, as well as the Eastern and Southern Africa–UK Economic Partnership Agreement. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Tax Convention.[1]
Chagos Islands Deal Timeline
1968
- 12 March - Mauritius gains independence, but the United Kingdom retains the Chagos Islands.[2]
2019
- The International Court of Justice rules that the UK should return the Chagos Islands, reinforcing Mauritius’ sovereignty claim.[3]
2022
- UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly opens negotiations on the return of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.[4]
2024
- 18 December - Mauritius’s newly elected Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam reopens talks with the UK, issuing counterproposals to the existing deal for Britain to transfer control of the islands. While the UK still intended to hand over the Chagos Islands, it sought to retain the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia for at least 99 years. The agreement has drawn mixed reactions, with then US President Joe Biden supporting it as “historic,” while critics, including allies of then US President-elect Donald Trump, opposing it.[5]
2025
- 4 February - Negotiations for the Chagos intensify, with Mauritius seeking a final agreement, contingent on US security concerns over Diego Garcia, a key military base.[6]
- 2 March - Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch reaffirms her party’s opposition to ceding the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, despite support from USA President Donald Trump. Critics, including Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio, warn of security risks due to Mauritius' ties with China. Badenoch condemns the financial terms, claiming taxpayer money would fund the transfer.[7]
- 23 May - UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signs an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, paying an average cost of £101 million a year for 99 years to lease back the Diego Garcia military base.[8]
Diplomatic missions
- Mauritius maintains a high commission in London.[9]
- The United Kingdom is accredited to Mauritius through its high commission in Port Louis.[10]
