The UK has reached an agreement to return sovereignty over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius, while maintaining control of a strategically important US-UK military base on Diego Garcia for another century, Bloomberg reports.
The deal, which has been under negotiation for two years and received the support of US President Joe Biden, grants the UK the right to exercise Mauritius’s sovereign rights over Diego Garcia for an initial period of 99 years. The agreement also allows for the return of the Chagossian people to the islands, excluding Diego Garcia, more than 50 years after their forced removal.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the agreement as a way to “protect the continued operation of the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia,” emphasizing its importance to both national and global security.
The deal aims to resolve a long-standing territorial dispute, complicated by the presence of the US Air Force base established in the 1970s. The base has played a significant role in recent military campaigns in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
While the agreement has been welcomed by US President Joe Biden, who called it a “peaceful and mutually beneficial outcome,” it has been criticized by some within the UK. Conservative Party leadership contender Robert Jenrick referred to the agreement as a “dangerous capitulation.”
The Chagos Islands, which are part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, have been a source of contention since 1965 when they were separated from Mauritius to form a separate colony. In 1973, the military base was established on Diego Garcia, leading to the forced displacement of approximately 1,360 Chagossians.
Under the agreement, Mauritius will have the authority to implement a resettlement program on the islands, excluding Diego Garcia. The UK will also establish a new trust fund and provide additional support to benefit the Chagossian community.
The agreement is subject to the finalization of a treaty and supporting legal documents.
