Donald Trump approves controversial Chagos Islands transfer to Mauritius

In a significant geopolitical move, Donald Trump has officially authorized a deal that involves ceding the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. This decision, which represents a pivotal shift in territorial governance, follows the U.N. International Court of Justice's ruling asserting Mauritius' claim over the islands. The UK government confirmed that they are now in the process of finalizing details with Mauritius. A critical component of the agreement revolves around the lease-back of the Diego Garcia airbase, a strategically vital military installation for both the UK and US. The deal's financial implications are considerable, with reports suggesting a potential cost of up to £18 billion, leading to public scrutiny regarding the necessity of leasing territory that the UK already possesses. While Trump had expressed initial skepticism, meetings with UK officials appear to have swayed his opinion in favor of the deal, marking a rare instance of cooperation between the two nations on a contentious issue. Additionally, as the deal progresses, UK officials reassured the White House that there would be no financial burden placed on American taxpayers. Nonetheless, critics have raised alarms about the legal uncertainties surrounding the airbase and what this shift means for long-standing UK-US security collaborations.