The Overlooked Geopolitics of the Chagos Islands: Beyond the UK-US Narrative
Written by Noémie Anglade, MSc Development Management on the 16th of February 2026 When the United Kingdom and Mauritius signed a historic treaty on May 22, 2025 – transferring sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago back to Mauritius after decades of dispute – much of the Western coverage fixated on a familiar perspective: why did Britain agree to the deal? Why did Trump call it a "great stupidity" in January 2026, only to change his opinion weeks later? The focus remained mostly on Western...