UK signs deal to hand over Chagos Islands

The UK has signed a deal to hand over control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while leasing back the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years at a significant cost to the UK taxpayer. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the base is of "utmost significance to Britain" and the deal is in the country's national interest. The UK will pay an estimated £3.4bn to £30bn over 99 years, depending on inflation, with annual costs ranging from £165m to £120m plus inflation. The deal has been criticized by the Tories and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who claim it is a "surrender" that leaves the UK more exposed to China. However, Sir Keir Starmer said the deal was inherited from the Tories and has the support of the UK's allies, including the US, NATO, and India.

The UK has signed a deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back a key military base on Diego Garcia for £101m a year. The agreement, which has been welcomed by the US, allows Mauritius to gain sovereignty over the islands while permitting the UK and US to continue operating the military base for 99 years, with an option to extend the lease by 40 years. The UK will maintain a 24-mile buffer around Diego Garcia and retain the power to veto foreign military and civilian forces from other islands in the archipelago. The deal has been criticized by UK Conservatives, who argue it is "an act of national self-harm" that leaves the UK more exposed to China due to Mauritius' ties with the country. The Chagossian community is also divided, with some criticizing the lack of a say in the deal and others celebrating the potential for resettlement on the outer islands.

The recent UK-EU deal modestly reduces some of the worst trade frictions introduced after Britain's exit from the EU and adds a new pact to work together on rebuilding Europe's defences. Although hailed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as "historic", the deal is not a significant reversal of Brexit, which remains "hard". The most notable aspect of the agreement is the establishment of a system for facilitating future deals between the UK and EU.