The United Kingdom concurs on a Chagos Island sovereignty arrangement with Mauritius.
The current administration inherited a dilemma concerning the sustained, secure operation of the Diego Garcia military base, which was facing challenges due to disputed ownership and ongoing legal battles. Britain's Foreign Minister, David Lammy, declared in a statement that the recent agreement solidifies the base's future use. This move is expected to strengthen Britain's role in maintaining international security, prevent the Indian Ocean from being misused as an unlawful immigration route to the UK, and secure a long-term alliance with Mauritius.
Britain, governing the region since 1814, separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, a former colony that gained independence in 1968, to form the British Indian Ocean Territory in 1965. In the 1970s, Britain forced nearly 2,000 locals to relocate to Mauritius and the Seychelles to pave the way for an American airbase on Diego Garcia, which had been leased to the US since 1966.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 2019 that Britain must surrender authority over the islands and had unjustly pushed the population to depart in the 1970s to make way for the US airbase. A joint statement from Britain and Mauritius confirmed that the political agreement received backing and assistance from the United States and India.
Despite the International Court of Justice's ruling, Britain continues to maintain its presence in the region, with the Diego Garcia military base playing a crucial role in safeguarding global security. The base has a significant strategic location in Asia, positioned to monitor potential threats and maintain stability in the Asian continent.
