UK-Mauritius Deal Sparks Security Fears Over Diego Garcia Military Base

The Telegraph warns new treaty could compromise Western strike secrecy, citing Mauritius-Iran ties

A landmark agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius over the Chagos Islands has raised alarm among Western security analysts and lawmakers, with The Telegraph warning it could jeopardize the operational secrecy of the US-UK military base on Diego Garcia.

Under the new £30 billion arrangement brokered by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Britain plans to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius while retaining long-term access to the strategically critical base. However, the treaty includes a contentious clause requiring the UK to “expeditiously inform Mauritius of any armed attack on a third state” launched from the base.

Although British officials insist such notification would occur after any military action, the agreement reportedly lacks language explicitly prohibiting advance disclosure—raising fears among military and intelligence experts.

Critics argue that Mauritius’s strengthening diplomatic and educational ties with Iran pose a significant risk. Western intelligence sources have flagged Mauritius’s ongoing negotiations with Tehran, including discussions to establish Iranian universities on the island, as a potential conduit for sensitive information.

The presence of US B-2 stealth bombers on Diego Garcia—alongside speculation of possible future strikes against Iran if Donald Trump returns to office—has heightened the stakes.

Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois condemned the deal, calling it “military and financial madness” and warning it could undermine decades of strategic advantage in the Indian Ocean.

The controversy underscores growing concerns that Mauritius, despite its formal neutrality, could become an unintended player in high-stakes global conflict due to its evolving foreign alliances.