Mauritius demanded that Britain finalize a deal handing over an island housing a strategic U.S. base amid the ongoing strikes in Iran. The island nation questioned the legality of U.S. strikes, stating that the “attacks by the United States of America and Israel against Iran” and “Iran’s retaliatory attacks against States not initially involved in the conflict” have no “legal underpinning under international law.”
“Mauritius, mindful of its commitment to the international rules based order, calls for an immediate ceasefire and recourse to peaceful means of resolving disputes between the States concerned,” the government’s statement read. Mauritius urged the agreement to move forward expeditiously, as it “has not yet entered into force and there is no visibility as to when this would occur.”
British Conservative MP Priti Patel shared the government’s communication on social media, warning that the island transfer “could undermine our security, defence and national interest” as Mauritius is “a friend of China.”
In January, President Trump slammed the United Kingdom for its move to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. “Shockingly, our ‘brilliant’ NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER,” he wrote on Truth Social. “There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness. These are International Powers who only recognize STRENGTH, which is why the United States of America, under my leadership, is now, after only one year, respected like never before.”
He called the move “great stupidity.”
The U.K. signed the agreement in May 2025. The agreement argues that the transfer understands the “importance of protecting international peace and security, including by ensuring the long-term, secure and effective operation of the Base on Diego Garcia.”
