International Legal News - 27 May 2025
- Ned Vucijak
- May 27, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 2, 2025
22 May 2025
UK cedes The Chagos islands to Mauritius in £3.4 billion deal.
On Thursday, the UK concluded an agreement with Mauritius to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands. The Agreement provides the UK a 99-year lease to use the largest island, Diego Garcia for approx. £101m per year, where it operates a military base in a joint venture with the United States. The agreement also includes a series of additional provisions, including a 24-nautical mile buffer zone which precludes any foreign power from construction without the UK’s consent.
The agreement was concluded despite an 11th hour injunction initially granted overnight by the High Court to applicants native to Diego Garcia who sought to take legal action against the agreement. The agreement however was concluded after the injunction was discharged on the basis that “the public interest and the interests of the United Kingdom would be substantially prejudiced by the grant or continuance of interim relief”.
22 May 2025
UN Secretary-General condemns killing of Israeli diplomats in US Capital
Two diplomats working for the Israeli embassy in Washington D.C. were killed following their attendance of an event for young diplomats held by the American Jewish Committee at the Capital Jewish Museum.
The UN secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the “appalling killing”, noting that “nothing can justify such a horrific act”. A suspect has been taken into custody. Investigations are ongoing.
21 May 2025
United Nations General Assembly mulls treaty to ban autonomous weapon systems
Officials from 96 countries, joined representatives from UN agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other NGOs in New York on 12-13 May 2025 for a UN General Assembly meeting concerning the use of autonomous weapon systems which provide military capacity without human oversight.
The meeting has seen calls for the creation of a new international treaty to address concerns associated with these weapon systems, if not a total prohibition on their proliferation and use. In the opening of the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger were unanimous in their call for the creation of an international instrument by 2026.
21 May 2025
Mali’s government urged to investigate military’s alleged role in execution of detainees
The Government of Mali has been urged by Human Rights Watch to organise an independent investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killings of 22 men who were arrested by the army in Diafarabé on 12 May.
21 May 2025
Ukrainian arms dispute to be heard in London
A state-owned Ukrainian defence company is seeking US$347 million against a US weapons exporter in London arbitration which it says is owed under a contract to purchase artillery. (Paywalled)
20 May 2025
EU Commission to Review Israel’s compliance with Association Agreement
The European Commission on the request of 17 EU member states has agreed to conduct a review which will examine whether Israel has violated its obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement to respect human rights and democratic principles.
The proposed review comes nearly a year after the International Court of Justice issued its Advisory Opinion on 19 July 2024 which found inter alia that Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territories were in breach of its international obligations.
