The United Kingdom has agreed to give up sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a deal that will allow people displaced decades ago to return home. The agreement also allows the UK to retain use of the British-US military base on Diego Garcia, which is a strategic military base jointly operated with the United States. The operation of Diego Garcia is protected by the agreement, ensuring the long-term security of the military base.
British Foreign Minister David Lammy stated that the agreement secures the vital military base for the future, strengthens the UK’s role in safeguarding global security, and guarantees a long-term relationship with Mauritius. The UK has controlled the Chagos Islands since 1814, detaching them from Mauritius in 1965 to create the British Indian Ocean Territory. The UK evicted almost 2,000 residents in the early 1970s to make way for an airbase on the largest island, Diego Garcia, which was leased to the US in 1966.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 2019 that Britain should give up control of the islands and criticized the forced removal of the population in the 1970s to make way for the US air base. The agreement between the UK and Mauritius has the support and assistance of the US and India. This deal marks a significant step towards resolving the longstanding dispute over the Chagos Islands and allows for the possibility of displaced residents to return home.
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