World News

Overseas colonies are expensive, when they can't be brutally exploited, and the UK doesn't have an expansive global empire to suck the resources from anymore.

It does look like a sticking point here was a strategically significant FOB, Diego Garcia, which will not be handed back over.

So the UK has to suffer another embarrassment that reminds them they're no longer a global superpower, but they also get to save some money, and retain access to an important strategic asset.

They might also get some good press for continuing decolonization, I can't speak to that, as I'm not sure how, or where, they might have felt any real political pressure over this.