In a surprise move, US President Donald Trump has authorized the handover of the Chagos Islands from the United Kingdom to Mauritius, bringing an end to a long-standing dispute over the archipelago. The deal, which has been in the works since last year, will see the UK pay to maintain control of a joint US-UK military facility on Diego Garcia, the largest island, for 99 years, while surrendering its control of the Chagos archipelago.

The Chagos Islands, a British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) since 1965, have been a point of contention between the UK and Mauritius for decades. The UK leased the islands to the US in 1966, leading to the forced removal of over 2,000 original inhabitants between the 1960s and 1970s to make way for the construction of a US military base on Diego Garcia. The Chagossians, as they are known, have been fighting for their right to return to their homeland, filing cases in British courts and seeking international support.

In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared that Britain's separation of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius was unconstitutional under international law, and the United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of Mauritius' claim to the archipelago. Despite this, the UK had repeatedly denied the Chagossians' right to return, citing security concerns over the US military facility on Diego Garcia.

However, with Trump's approval, the deal is now set to move forward, with the UK and Mauritius finalizing the treaty. According to Tom Wells, a spokesman for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, "We are working with the Mauritian government to finalize and sign the treaty. Once signed, it will be laid before both houses of Parliament for scrutiny and for ratification."

The deal has not been without controversy, with senior Republicans in the US criticizing the handover last year, and some members of the UK government questioning the high costs of maintaining the military facility. Despite these concerns, the agreement marks a significant step towards resolving a long-standing dispute and potentially paving the way for the Chagossians to return to their homeland.

The implications of the deal are far-reaching, with potential consequences for the UK's relationships with Mauritius and the international community. The handover also raises questions about the future of the US military presence in the region and the role of the UK in maintaining global security.

As the deal moves forward, attention will turn to the next steps in the process, including the signing of the treaty and its ratification by the UK Parliament. The outcome of this process will have significant implications for the Chagos Islands, Mauritius, and the international community, and will be closely watched by observers around the world.