Historic UK-Mauritius Pact on Chagos Islands Sovereignty

The UK and Mauritius reached a historic agreement on the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, transferring control to Mauritius while retaining a UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The deal aims to bolster international security and prevent illegal migration routes through the Indian Ocean.

The United Kingdom announced a landmark agreement with Mauritius on Thursday, which will transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands while maintaining the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. This development marks a significant geopolitical shift in the Indian Ocean.

The British Indian Ocean Territory, comprised of around 60 islands, has been a long-standing subject of dispute. Previous negotiations began in 2022 under a different UK government. The current agreement allows the strategic base at Diego Garcia to remain under UK and US jurisdiction for 99 more years, safeguarding regional security.

This arrangement, supported by international partners including the US and India, also aims to prevent illegal migration through the Indian Ocean while enhancing UK-Mauritius relations. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized the importance of this deal for international security.