Britain’s government said it agreed to hand sovereignty of the long-contested Chagos Islands
UK Hands Sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius
Britain’s government said it agreed to hand sovereignty of the long-contested Chagos Islands, an archipelago of more than 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, to Mauritius, in a deal that secures the future of a strategically important UK-US military base there. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the agreement secures the vital military base at Diego Garcia, the largest in the chain of islands, for the future.
The UK government said without the deal the secure operation of the military base would be under threat, with contested sovereignty and legal challenges, including through various international courts and tribunals. As part of the deal, the UK will retain sovereignty of Diego Garcia for an initial period of 99 years. The UK and Mauritius recently announced a “historic” agreement that will transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while maintaining the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which will remain operational for at least 99 more years.
This settlement, which has been under negotiation since 2022, resolves a decades-long territorial dispute and secures the future of the strategically important military base.
Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth also celebrated the agreement as a momentous occasion, stating, “Today marks the completion of our decolonization, a long-awaited moment for the people of Mauritius.”
US President Joe Biden applauded the agreement, highlighting its importance in securing Diego Garcia’s role in global security for the next century. The military base has been crucial in maintaining regional stability and responding to crises in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa.
India’s Support To Mauritius
India has backed Mauritus in the legal dispute over the Island. EAM S Jaishankar reaffirmed New Delhi’s support for Mauritius during a visit to Port Louis earlier this year. India’s backing aligned with its broader principles on sovereignty and its special relationship with Mauritius, a fellow member of the Commonwealth.
The new agreement paves the way for Mauritius to manage resettlement on all islands except Diego Garcia. The treaty is expected to be finalised soon, marking a resolution to one of the last colonial-era territorial disputes.
