The UK has announced it is giving up sovereignty over a remote but strategically important cluster of islands in the Indian Ocean.

The BBC reported on this.

London’s decision ended decades of tense negotiations between the UK and Mauritius over the archipelago.

This includes the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, used by the U.S. government as a military base for its navy ships and long-range bomber aircraft.

From this air base, American bombers flew combat missions to Afghanistan and Iraq. Under the terms of the agreement, Britain will lease the atoll from Mauritius for at least 99 years, allowing the United States to maintain its military base there.

According to BBC correspondents, the preservation of the military base is a key factor in the context of growing geopolitical rivalry in the region between Western countries, India and China.

The leaders of Britain and Mauritius pledge to ensure the continued, safe, and effective operation of the base, which plays a vital role in regional and global security.

U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the “historic agreement,” saying it was a “clear demonstration that through diplomacy and partnership, countries can overcome long-standing historical challenges to reach peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes.”

The agreement still needs to be finalized, but the parties promise to complete it as soon as possible.

“This is a seminal moment in our relationship and a demonstration of our enduring commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the rule of law,” the statement from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth read.

Chagos Archipelago

The Chagos archipelago was separated from Mauritius in 1965, when Mauritius was still a British colony. Britain bought it for three million pounds and declared it its territory in the Indian Ocean.

Mauritius accused Britain of illegal colonial occupation of the archipelago, claiming that it was illegally forced to give up its rights to the Chagos Islands in 1968 in exchange for independence.

In a joint statement, the prime ministers emphasize that the agreement will eliminate the mistakes of the past and demonstrate the commitment of both sides to support the welfare of Chagossians.

Between 1968 and 1974, the British authorities evicted more than a thousand indigenous people of Chagos from the islands and resettled them in Mauritius and the Seychelles, where many faced poverty and discrimination.

London has repeatedly apologized for the expulsion of the islanders and promised to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius when they are no longer needed for strategic purposes. However, until recently, Britain insisted that Mauritius had no legal rights to the islands.