Thu May 22 10:21:35 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The UK government’s deal to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while securing a lease for the U.S.-U.K. military base on Diego Garcia, has been temporarily blocked by a last-minute injunction from the High Court in London. This legal challenge was brought by two Chagossian women. The court will hear further arguments later today. The agreement, which would involve the UK paying Mauritius a significant sum for the base lease, has been controversial due to the forced displacement of Chagos Islanders in the 1960s and the UK’s contested ownership of the archipelago. While PM Keir Starmer argues the deal is vital for maintaining the base’s functionality and securing British interests, critics highlight the unresolved issues of sovereignty and the rights of the Chagossian people.

**News Article:**

**Chagos Islands Deal Halted by Last-Minute Court Injunction**

**London -** A planned agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius for the return of the Chagos Islands has been put on hold by a last-minute injunction issued by the High Court in London. The deal, which would see the UK cede sovereignty over the archipelago while retaining a 99-year lease for the U.S.-U.K. military base on Diego Garcia, was scheduled to be signed today.

The injunction, granted in the early hours of this morning, prevents the UK government from taking any conclusive or legally binding steps towards transferring the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), also known as the Chagos Archipelago, to Mauritius.

The request for the injunction was filed by two Chagossian women, highlighting the ongoing legal challenges surrounding the islands.

The agreement had been touted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as crucial for ensuring the continued functionality of the Diego Garcia base, a strategically important facility for both the UK and the United States in the Asia-Pacific region. Starmer has stated that international rulings have cast doubt on Britain’s ownership of the Chagos Islands and therefore the deal is the only way to guarantee the base remains functional.

The UK government has not disclosed the financial details of the lease agreement, but reports suggest it could cost £90 million ($111 million) annually. The UK government spokesperson stated that it did not comment on ongoing legal cases, but emphasized the importance of the deal for British security.

The Chagos Islands have been a source of contention for decades. Britain retained control of the islands after Mauritius gained independence, forcibly displacing thousands of Chagossians, who have since sought compensation and the right to return. In 2019, the International Court of Justice recommended that the UK return the archipelago to Mauritius.

The High Court is expected to hold a further hearing later today to review the injunction and consider arguments from both sides. The outcome of the legal challenge could have significant implications for the future of the Chagos Islands and the strategic importance of Diego Garcia.

Mauritius has previously stated that it would pursue its fight for full sovereignty over the islands should Washington refuse to support the return.

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