On the 25th local time, a British Foreign Office official stated that the UK may “suspend” the process of transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while engaging in “direct discussions” with the United States on the matter. The Chagos Archipelago is located in the southwestern Indian Ocean, approximately 750 kilometers northeast of Mauritius. It was ceded to British colonial authorities in 1965. The following year, the UK leased Diego Garcia Island to the United States for the construction of an airbase. On May 22, 2025, the UK and Mauritius signed an agreement formally transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Under the agreement, the Diego Garcia military base will be leased by Mauritius to the UK and the US.