The British Parliament has temporarily suspended debate on a bill proposing the handover of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, following growing diplomatic tensions and legal concerns.
The legislation, which was introduced by the UK government and sent to the House of Lords, outlined a plan to transfer sovereignty of the islands—except for Diego Garcia—to Mauritius, while leasing back Diego Garcia for 99 years at GBP 101 million annually to maintain the joint UK-US military base established under a 1966 treaty.
However, Conservative members in the upper house called for a pause last Friday, citing shifting international dynamics and potential violations of existing treaties and international law. The government has since withdrawn the bill from immediate consideration.
The move has drawn reactions from regional players, notably the Maldives, whose President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has asserted a historical and geographical claim to the archipelago, arguing that Chagos—known locally as "Foalhavahi"—has stronger ties to the Maldives than to Mauritius.
President Muizzu emphasised that the Maldives, inhabited for nearly 4,000 years, predates Mauritian settlement by millennia and has formally communicated its position to British authorities.
Maldives’ former President Mohamed Nasheed echoed these sentiments on social media, maintaining that Maldives’ case remains viable. The decision to adjourn the debate casts uncertainty over the future of the Chagos, despite a 2019 International Court of Justice advisory opinion supporting its return to Mauritius after decades of British administration.