In a world increasingly shaped by geopolitical flashpoints, the recent sovereignty transfer of the Chagos Islands from the United Kingdom to Mauritius may appear, on the surface, to be a noble act of decolonisation. Yet beneath this veneer lies a troubling compromise ~ one that satisfies neither many of the displaced Chagossians nor meets the ethical standards expected of modern liberal democracies. At the heart of this deal is Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago and home to a highly strategic UK-US military base. For nearly five decades, this remote atoll in the Indian Ocean has functioned as a linchpin for Western military operations, particularly those spanning Asia.

With the lease-back arrangement now formalised for the next 99 years at an annual cost exceeding £100 million, the UK has chosen a security calculus over moral restitution. Supporters of the agreement argue that it ensures regional........

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