Britain has agreed to hand over sovereignty of the disputed Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a deal that protects a key US military base vital to British security.
The Indian Ocean archipelago is home to Diego Garcia, a strategically important naval and bomber base operated by US forces. Under the agreement, Britain will pay Mauritius £101 million ($136 million) per year to lease back the base for at least 99 years.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the deal ensures “strong protections” that will allow the base to operate well into the next century, helping keep Britain safe from threats such as Russia or China. However, critics argue that giving up the islands puts them at risk of foreign interference.
The agreement must be approved by Parliament and has been met with opposition from some island residents who were expelled decades ago to make way for the base. Displaced islanders have fought in UK courts for years to return home but fear it will become harder once Mauritius takes control.
Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam is set to sign the deal, while Britain’s defense ministry claims the agreement includes strong protections such as a 24-mile exclusion zone around Diego Garcia and a ban on foreign security forces.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/chagos-islands-britain-mauritius-handover-court-blocks-b6f02636c9bc858a06926090d1a8cb5c