The United States and the United Kingdom are currently in a dispute over the control of islands hosting at remote locations. Amid this, an island nation, the Maldives, has extended an offer to the American President Donald Trump. The Maldives President, Mohamed Muizzu, has said he is ready to work on an "arrangement" via which the US would continue its presence at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia. But in return, the Maldives must get control of the Chagos Archipelago, a UK-held Indian Ocean territory. London is currently planning to transfer the territory to another island nation, Mauritius.&nbsp;The deal between the UK and Mauritius was confirmed last year - and was supported by Trump. But now, the American president voiced opposition, citing national security concerns. Although Mauritius has claimed that the US and UK would have the privilege to maintain operations on the territory.&nbsp;Talking to Newsweek, Muizzu said, “President Trump clearly seeks to protect and secure the continuation of the use of Chagos for the US Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia."&nbsp;“Currently, under British ownership, the UK and the US can operate from the Diego Garcia base freely according to their various security and defence alliances with each other and many other countries, including the Maldives," Muizzu told the outlet, adding: “Under a transfer of sovereignty to the Maldives, the government of Maldives would seek approval through our parliament as per our constitution, to facilitate the continuation of the status quo."&nbsp;Muizzu even explained why Trump should consider the Maldives for this arrangement. He said that his country has the "greatest experience" in maintaining marine conservation areas across thousands of miles of ocean. "We have never overpopulated, overdeveloped, or under-protected marine conservation zones within our current borders - and we would not do so should those borders be expanded to include Chagos," the leader told.&nbsp;

Maldives offers US continued Diego Garcia base access if Chagos shifts from UK to Maldives, challenging UK-Mauritius deal, as Trump raises national security concerns over Indian Ocean control dynamics geopolitics.

The United States and the United Kingdom are currently in a dispute over the control of islands hosting at remote locations. Amid this, an island nation, the Maldives, has extended an offer to the American President Donald Trump. The Maldives President, Mohamed Muizzu, has said he is ready to work on an "arrangement" via which the US would continue its presence at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia. But in return, the Maldives must get control of the Chagos Archipelago, a UK-held Indian Ocean territory. London is currently planning to transfer the territory to another island nation, Mauritius. The deal between the UK and Mauritius was confirmed last year - and was supported by Trump. But now, the American president voiced opposition, citing national security concerns. Although Mauritius has claimed that the US and UK would have the privilege to maintain operations on the territory. Talking to Newsweek, Muizzu said, “President Trump clearly seeks to protect and secure the continuation of the use of Chagos for the US Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia." “Currently, under British ownership, the UK and the US can operate from the Diego Garcia base freely according to their various security and defence alliances with each other and many other countries, including the Maldives," Muizzu told the outlet, adding: “Under a transfer of sovereignty to the Maldives, the government of Maldives would seek approval through our parliament as per our constitution, to facilitate the continuation of the status quo." Muizzu even explained why Trump should consider the Maldives for this arrangement. He said that his country has the "greatest experience" in maintaining marine conservation areas across thousands of miles of ocean. "We have never overpopulated, overdeveloped, or under-protected marine conservation zones within our current borders - and we would not do so should those borders be expanded to include Chagos," the leader told.

Maldives offers US continued Diego Garcia base access if Chagos shifts from UK to Maldives, challenging UK-Mauritius deal, as Trump raises national security concerns over Indian Ocean control dynamics geopolitics.

Maldives’ Muizzu has deal for Trump amid US-UK dispute over control of island bases. This is what he offers

The UK on Thursday (May 22) signed a deal transferring the sovereignty of the disputed Chagos Islands to Mauritius, and lease Diego Garcia's military base for £101 million a year (approx. $129 million). This brings an end to years of British rule over the Indian Ocean archipelago. The deal was signed after a UK court overturned a last-minute injunction and cleared the way for an agreement.&nbsp;Under the deal, the UK will pay Mauritius an average of $129 million per year to lease the Diego Garcia military base for at least 99 years. This means US and the UK can continue to operate a military base in Diego Garcia for 99 years.&nbsp;Diego Garcia's military base is co-operated by the United States. &nbsp;UK PM Keir Starmer said that the base is crucial for British counterterrorism and intelligence. US President Donald Trump has also publically welcomed the deal.<h2>Why is Chagos Islands 'disputed'?</h2>The Chagos Island is a chain of over 60 islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It is in the south of India and Maldives. It has been under British control since 1814. In 1965, Britain designated the area as the British Indian Ocean Territory. Three years later, Mauritius gained independence but by then, Britain had separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, thus maintaining British control over the strategic islands. It also invited the US military to use the base and removed indigenous people from there. The UK claims that it purchased the islands for £3m in 1968, however, Mauritius says that it had to let go of the islands in return for independence.The UK PM during the announcement of the deal said that Trump has welcomed the deal along with other allies, because they see "the strategic importance of this base and that we cannot cede the ground to others who would seek to do us harm." The US had previously described the base as “an almost indispensable platform” for security operations across the Middle East, South Asia and East Africa. It supported US military operations during the Vietnam War and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Recently, it was used by the US to deploy several nuclear-capable B-2 Spirit bombers amid an intense airstrike campaign targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels.<h2>What is India's stance?</h2>&nbsp;India has welcomed the UK-Mauritius deal which restores Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Islands. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India has always backed Mauritius' claim to the Archipelago.&nbsp;“The formal resolution of the longstanding Chagos dispute through this bilateral treaty is a milestone achievement and a positive development for the region. This is further to the understanding between the two sides reached in October 2024 and marks the culmination of the process of decolonisation of Mauritius in the spirit of international law and rules-based order,” the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi stated.&nbsp;“As a steadfast and longstanding partner of Mauritius, India remains committed to working closely with Mauritius and other like-minded countries to strengthen maritime security and regional stability and ensure peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region,” Randhir Jaiswal, the MEA spokesperson, said in a press briefing.

The UK signed a deal transferring the sovereignty of the disputed Chagos Islands to Mauritius, and lease Diego Garcia military base to US, UK for at least 99 years 

The UK on Thursday (May 22) signed a deal transferring the sovereignty of the disputed Chagos Islands to Mauritius, and lease Diego Garcia's military base for £101 million a year (approx. $129 million). This brings an end to years of British rule over the Indian Ocean archipelago. The deal was signed after a UK court overturned a last-minute injunction and cleared the way for an agreement. Under the deal, the UK will pay Mauritius an average of $129 million per year to lease the Diego Garcia military base for at least 99 years. This means US and the UK can continue to operate a military base in Diego Garcia for 99 years. Diego Garcia's military base is co-operated by the United States. UK PM Keir Starmer said that the base is crucial for British counterterrorism and intelligence. US President Donald Trump has also publically welcomed the deal. Why is Chagos Islands 'disputed'? The Chagos Island is a chain of over 60 islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It is in the south of India and Maldives. It has been under British control since 1814. In 1965, Britain designated the area as the British Indian Ocean Territory. Three years later, Mauritius gained independence but by then, Britain had separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, thus maintaining British control over the strategic islands. It also invited the US military to use the base and removed indigenous people from there. The UK claims that it purchased the islands for £3m in 1968, however, Mauritius says that it had to let go of the islands in return for independence. The UK PM during the announcement of the deal said that Trump has welcomed the deal along with other allies, because they see "the strategic importance of this base and that we cannot cede the ground to others who would seek to do us harm." The US had previously described the base as “an almost indispensable platform” for security operations across the Middle East, South Asia and East Africa. It supported US military operations during the Vietnam War and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Recently, it was used by the US to deploy several nuclear-capable B-2 Spirit bombers amid an intense airstrike campaign targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels. What is India's stance? India has welcomed the UK-Mauritius deal which restores Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Islands. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India has always backed Mauritius' claim to the Archipelago. “The formal resolution of the longstanding Chagos dispute through this bilateral treaty is a milestone achievement and a positive development for the region. This is further to the understanding between the two sides reached in October 2024 and marks the culmination of the process of decolonisation of Mauritius in the spirit of international law and rules-based order,” the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi stated. “As a steadfast and longstanding partner of Mauritius, India remains committed to working closely with Mauritius and other like-minded countries to strengthen maritime security and regional stability and ensure peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region,” Randhir Jaiswal, the MEA spokesperson, said in a press briefing.

The UK signed a deal transferring the sovereignty of the disputed Chagos Islands to Mauritius, and lease Diego Garcia military base to US, UK for at least 99 years&nbsp;

UK, Mauritius sign deal on Chagos Islands: Why was archipelago disputed and what is India's stance | WION Explains

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Maldives’ Muizzu has deal for Trump amid US-UK dispute over control of island bases. This is what he offers

UK, Mauritius sign deal on Chagos Islands: Why was archipelago disputed and what is India's stance | Explained