Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam on Thursday revealed that after the UK formally recognised Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, his government opted to hoist its national flag there using an Indian vessel, despite Britain’s offer to provide one.
Speaking at a joint press briefing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ramgoolam said, “We want to visit Chagos to put our flag there, including Diego Garcia. The British offered us a vessel, but we said we preferred one from India because symbolically it would be better.”
PM Modi congratulated Mauritius on what he described as a “historic victory for its independence”, reaffirming India’s long-standing support for decolonisation and full sovereignty for Port Louis. “India has always stood with Mauritius with courage,” he added.
In May 2025, London and Port Louis signed an agreement confirming that Mauritius holds sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, ending decades of dispute.
Ramgoolam further said that discussions with PM Modi covered a wide range of issues, including:
- Improvements to the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
- Enhanced cooperation in police training and technical assistance.
- Surveillance of Mauritius’ vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with Indian support.
- Collaboration on maritime security and climate change.
The meeting also saw the signing of several MoUs in areas such as community development, power and energy, science and technology, and space research.
Highlighting the broader relationship, the Mauritian leader said, “This visit has reaffirmed that our ties are defined by a common vision, shared values, and an enduring friendship.”