Summary

**Summary:** The UK decided to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius due to legal pressures and to ensure the continued operation of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. Legal challenges from international bodies indicated the UK had no legal right to retain the islands, which prompted the UK's move to avoid further complications and to secure its strategic interests. **Key Facts:** - The UK government signed a deal to give control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. - The main reason for the decision was legal pressure from international rulings. - Legal bodies argued the islands should have remained part of Mauritius since the 1960s. - The UK's military base, Diego Garcia, is located on the Chagos Islands and is strategically important. - By ceding control, the UK hopes to keep the base operational. - Without the deal, contractors might refuse to work on the base due to legal concerns. - Critics argue the government exaggerated the legal threats and acted too quickly. - The deal allows the UK to retain a say over military presence on the islands, preventing other countries, such as China, from establishing a foothold.