UK minister warned of threat from China when Chagos deal expires
Members of the House of Lords stress that renewal of the deal in 99 years will depend on the goodwill of the then-government of Beijing-friendly Mauritius.
Indian Ocean
Starmer warns Trump to de-escalate in Iran
The prime minister said negotiations between the U.S. and Iran were the way to resolve tensions about Tehran’s uranium enrichment agenda.
UK agrees to hand sovereignty of disputed Chagos Islands to Mauritius
Britain on Thursday agreed to transfer sovereignty of the strategically located Chagos Islands to Mauritius, resolving a long-standing colonial-era dispute. The Indian Ocean archipelago is home to an important naval and bomber base on the largest of t…
Britain’s Chagos Islands handover blocked by High Court
The temporary injunction throws a spanner in the works of Keir Starmer’s plan to seal the territorial deal Thursday.
While Farage surges, Labour prays for its plan to work
Downing Street insists nothing has changed despite both main parties getting a drubbing from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. That line may not hold forever.
US fighter jet falls overboard while avoiding Houthi attack
The $60M mishap adds to an increasingly expensive price tag in the administration’s effort against the Iran-backed group.
Macron announces economic deals with Madagascar on first official visit
France and Madagascar unveiled a slate of major economic initiatives Wednesday, including a major hydroelectric dam project, during French President Emmanuel Macron’s first official visit to the island nation. The visit – the first by a French preside…
Reunion Island hospital calls for reinforcements amid virus outbreak
Hospitals on the French Indian Ocean Island of Reunion are reaching breaking point amid a chikungunya virus outbreak that has claimed six lives since January, affecting one out of nine people. Health officials are calling for urgent reinforcements to …
Offshore detention is inhumane — I know because I lived it
Europe’s nations have proposed establishing refugee “return hubs” in third-party countries outside their jurisdiction for failed asylum seekers. But they should think twice.
Witkoff spoke briefly with Iranian counterpart amid Trump’s nuclear pressure campaign
The early conversations between the U.S. and Iran are the first publicly known talks since Trump took office.
Penguins, seals and colonies: 5 mind-boggling tariffs in Trump’s ‘liberation’ plan
Why let penguins have all the fun?
Sweeping US tariffs hit some tiny targets around the world
President Donald Trump’s trade action hits several largely uninhabited places with little trade with anyone.
Trump signs off Chagos Islands deal between UK and Mauritius
Agreement has security implications for joint military base with US on Indian Ocean archipelago
Top French court ruling paves way for Le Pen to be barred from presidential run
The decision concerns an official from the overseas territory of Mayotte but had the potential to impact the far-right leader’s embezzlement trial.
Why sh*t gets real for Keir Starmer in June
A flurry of crucial policy reviews on areas that could define the U.K. prime minister’s government are coming due. POLITICO has you covered.
Trump hints at US backing for Chagos Islands deal
U.S. president suggested he was “inclined to go along” with the deal which hands the archipelago to Mauritius.
Why is USAID’s death being met with silence?
The impact of cutting international assistance is incredibly harmful, and it hurts America too. It’s time for our former leaders to speak up.
Half of French island in Indian Ocean burnt by wildfire
A wildfire has burnt through 55% of Amsterdam Island, a French foreign territory in the Indian Ocean.
Half of French island in Indian Ocean burnt by wildfire
A wildfire has burnt through 55% of Amsterdam Island, a French foreign territory in the Indian Ocean.
Britain’s handover of the Chagos Islands is pleasing nobody
Labour’s decision to grant the geopolitical archipelago to Mauritius has sparked criticism from all sides.
US national security adviser to discuss Chagos Islands deal with UK counterpart
Mike Waltz and Jonathan Powell will hold talks about the Indian Ocean territory
UK waits nervously for Trump to back Chagos Islands deal
U.S. president’s shake-up of the security apparatus has complicated scrutiny of controversial British deal over Diego Garcia military base.
What Britain desperately wants from Trump 2.0
PM Keir Starmer’s center-left government is holding its breath as Trump’s second term gets going.
France’s top tabloid sparks outrage with photo of grieving Le Pen
The image appeared to show the far-right figure in tears onboard an airplane.
French telecoms giant that fumed over Starlink used … Musk’s satellites for storm-ravaged island
An Orange lobbyist criticized Starlink’s post-disaster deployment to Mayotte — despite his company having used the satellites.
Activists demand ‘concrete measures’ to rebuild Mayotte after deadly cyclone
French Prime Minister François Bayrou arrived in Mayotte on Monday, vowing to bring help to the Indian Ocean territory ravaged by a cyclone.”[The French state] needs to take its responsibility,” said Mayotte activist Syviane Amavie, who is demanding “…
French government faces ‘huge challenge’ to rebuild Mayotte, specialist says
France’s new Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is scheduled to visit the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, which was devastated by a cyclone, on Sunday. Economics professor Jean-Pierre Philippe at La Réunion University spoke to FRANCE 24 about th…
Macron tells Mayotte’s cyclone-hit population it would be much more ‘screwed’ without France
French president’s comments were met with accusations of neocolonialism.
Macron arrives in Mayotte to assess aftermath of Cyclone Chido
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived Thursday in Mayotte to survey the devastation wrought by Cyclone Chido on the Indian Ocean archipelago. French authorities said at least 31 people have died and more than 1,500 people were injured, more than 20…
New French Prime Minister François Bayrou off to a nightmarish start
Bayrou’s decision to stay on as mayor of a small city has drawn controversy as he struggles to negotiate with opposition parties.
UK still finalizing Chagos deal that’s spooked Trumpworld
Deal over site of secretive U.S. airbase is under threat — from Mauritius’ new government and Donald Trump.
Macron skips EU summit to visit cyclone-hit island Mayotte
Authorities fear that several thousand could be dead after a devastating cyclone hit the French region in the Indian Ocean.
Macron sets deadline for new PM to form government as tensions flare
Things aren’t going smoothly between the French president and his new prime minister.
Mayotte feels like nuclear war aftermath since cyclone, residents say
Rescuers search through debris after the French Indian Ocean territory was hit by the worst storm in 90 years.
Mayotte feels like nuclear war aftermath since cyclone, residents say
Rescuers search through debris after the French Indian Ocean territory was hit by the worst storm in 90 years.
Many feared dead as cyclone hits French territory of Mayotte
Ferocious winds from storm Chido strike island after ‘incredibly high’ temperatures in Indian Ocean
Cyclone Chido devastates French territory of Mayotte – in pictures
Hundreds are feared dead after Cyclone Chido battered the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte on Sunday, with officials warning it will take days to know the full toll. Rescue workers and supplies are being rushed in by air and sea, but their effo…
Mayotte feels like nuclear war aftermath since cyclone, residents say
Rescuers search through debris after the French Indian Ocean territory was hit by the worst storm in 90 years.
Pope Francis, Emmanuel Macron meet as Corsica visit ends
The 87-year-old pontiff, on his first-ever visit to Corsica, said in an address earlier Sunday that the ‘concept of secularity that is not static and fixed, but evolving and dynamic’, and urged people to pray for the cylone-hit French Indian Ocean terr…
Several dead as Cyclone Chido batters French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte
Several dead as Cyclone Chido batters French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte
Several hundred feared dead after Mayotte cyclone
Cyclone Chido is the worst cyclone to hit France’s Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte in nearly a century.
‘They threw her body into the ocean’ – woman dies on boat headed for French island
Woman’s body thrown overboard after boat abandoned by people smugglers in the Indian Ocean.
‘They threw her body into the ocean’ – woman dies on boat headed for French island
Woman’s body thrown overboard after boat abandoned by people smugglers in the Indian Ocean.
Trump victory could torpedo UK’s Chagos Islands deal
Britain’s government is being warned deal over home of U.S. military base will only rile the president-elect.
How Brexit helped Britain lose the Chagos Islands
After more than half a century, the U.K. is passing sovereignty of the disputed territory back to Mauritius. Why now?
The end of the British Empire
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III head to the Commonwealth summit to talk climate change and growth. Not all their friends will be there.
SpaceX launches 5th Starship — with a catch
The giant Starship rocket is designed to fulfill Elon Musk’s ambition to send people to the moon and, eventually, to Mars.
Will the UK ‘give up’ Gibraltar next? In Spain, we’re more worried about Brexit’s absurdities | María Ramírez
Ignore warnings of the Rock following the Chagos Islands – new border checks are more of a threat to livelihoods in the territory and beyondA few hours after the British government announced that it was giving up control of the Chagos Islands and handi…
With the handover of the Chagos Islands, the UK cedes part of its colonial past in the Indian Ocean
The Republic of Mauritius had been claiming sovereignty over these islands for over 50 years. The agreement signed by Keir Starmer’s government allows the UK to keep the military base it leases to the US army.
US Republicans fear UK Chagos Islands deal will boost China
Britain insisted its U.S. allies were fully behind the move to hand control of the islands – home to a secretive military base — to Mauritius.
Argentina’s eyes light up over Falklands as Britain gives away one overseas territory
Chagos Islands deal sparks interest in Buenos Aires, more than 40 years after war between U.K. and Argentina.
Britain hands Chagos Islands, home of secretive US military base, over to Mauritius
Diego Garcia will remain under U.S.-U.K. jurisdiction for at least 99 years, but forcibly removed Chagossians will be helped to resettle.
Europe’s far right cracks up. So what?
On the eve of the EU election, France’s National Rally party sees it as too risky to team up with Alternative for Germany.
5 things we learned from the EU’s big (and first) climate risk report
Farming must change. Diets must evolve. Southern Europe is at risk. And disaster looms if EU leaders don’t act after June’s elections.
French migration row engulfs island in Indian Ocean
The island of Mayotte becomes the latest battleground in France over the laws on immigration.
‘It’s non-negotiable’: French MPs angry at move to restrict citizenship on Mayotte
Far right says measure should be adopted across France but critics say change breaches fundamental constitutional rights France unveils plan to curtail right to French citizenship in Indian Ocean island of MayotteEmmanuel Macron has been accused of wal…
France unveils plan to curtail right to French citizenship in Indian Ocean island of Mayotte
Interior minister Gérald Darmanin plans to change constitution to remove birthplace right to citizenship on island that is part of FranceFrench authorities have announced a controversial plan to amend the constitution to revoke birthplace citizenship o…
EU makes muddled response to crisis in the Red Sea
US and UK launched strikes against Houthi rebels but European nations are split on whether to join in.
Middle East braces for chaos as Iran and West square up
US-led strikes against Houthi rebels come as Tehran’s partners sow havoc from Lebanon to the Red Sea. Experts fear it’s only the beginning.
EU wants to send warships to Red Sea to tackle Houthi attacks
Operation should include ‘at least three anti-air destroyers or frigates.’
Iran needs to know US won’t accept its destabilizing actions
Washington’s policy of containment, defense and deterrence to prevent the Gaza war from spreading has been unsuccessful, and it is time to publicly announce a more assertive approach.
Biden’s foreign policy headache in 2024
Developments abroad in the first weeks of the new year may pose a significant challenge to the US president’s electoral prospects.
US warship shoots down drones as Red Sea crisis deepens
The US has accused Iran of launching a drone that hit a tanker off the Indian coast.
Maldives election could be key for China, India rivalry
A presidential election in the Maldives on Saturday (9 September) could be decisive in determining whether China or India win a competition for influence over the tiny Indian Ocean island chain.