Keypoints:
- US and Mauritius to hold security talks in Port Louis
- Focus on long-term operation of Diego Garcia base
- Washington backs UK plan to return Chagos Islands
THE United States will hold talks with Mauritius next week on the future of the Diego Garcia military base, as Britain moves ahead with plans to return sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to its former colony.
The US State Department announced Tuesday that officials from Washington and Port Louis will meet for three days in the Mauritian capital to discuss security arrangements governing the strategically vital installation in the Indian Ocean.
According to the department, the discussions will focus on ensuring the ‘effective implementation of security arrangements for the base to ensure its long-term, secure operation’.
The talks signal Washington’s effort to formalise defence guarantees following a politically sensitive agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius that reshapes control of the archipelago while preserving Western military access.
Strategic hub at centre of global security
Diego Garcia hosts one of the United States’ most important overseas military facilities, jointly operated with the United Kingdom. The base supports long-range air operations, naval logistics and surveillance missions across the Middle East, East Africa and the Indo-Pacific.
Security experts regard the island as central to US strategic posture in the Indian Ocean, a region increasingly shaped by geopolitical competition and maritime security concerns.
The State Department confirmed that parallel consultations were also taking place with Britain, highlighting ongoing coordination among the three governments.
‘The United States supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago,’ the statement said.
Britain moves to resolve colonial-era dispute
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government reached an agreement with Mauritius in May to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, ending decades of dispute linked to Britain’s colonial administration.
Under the arrangement, Britain will lease back Diego Garcia for joint US–UK military use for roughly a century, ensuring operational continuity despite the sovereignty change.
Britain retained control of the islands after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s. Thousands of Chagossians were later expelled to make way for the military base, sparking long-running legal challenges and international criticism. Displaced communities have since sought compensation and recognition of their rights.
The agreement is widely viewed as an attempt to address historical grievances while safeguarding strategic security interests.
Political tensions in Washington
The deal initially received cautious support in Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the agreement as ‘historic’, suggesting it could stabilise a long-contested diplomatic issue.
However, President Donald Trump later criticised the arrangement on social media, calling it an ‘act of GREAT STUPIDITY’ and linking the issue to broader arguments about US territorial strategy, including renewed remarks about Greenland.
Following discussions with Prime Minister Starmer, Trump later said he accepted the agreement after receiving assurances that US military operations at Diego Garcia would remain protected.
Diplomatic observers say the upcoming talks are designed to translate those political assurances into binding operational frameworks.
Balancing sovereignty with strategic continuity
For Mauritius, the negotiations represent a major diplomatic milestone, restoring sovereignty over territory long claimed by the island nation. At the same time, authorities in Port Louis have emphasised their commitment to maintaining security cooperation with Western partners.
For the United States and Britain, the overriding objective remains stability. Officials have stressed that uninterrupted access to Diego Garcia is essential to regional security planning and global military logistics.
The outcome of the Port Louis discussions is expected to define how sovereignty transfer and defence cooperation coexist, potentially creating a new governance model balancing decolonisation with modern security realities.
