UK Hands Over Indian Ocean Islands To Mauritius — Here's What This Means For US Military Base On Diego Garcia

The UK has agreed to transfer the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius, bringing an end to a long-standing dispute.

Diego Garcia, which hosts a US military base, is part of the Chagos Islands.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the UK forcibly expelled the Chagossians, a move condemned as a crime against humanity, while it retained control of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) following Mauritius’ independence in 1968.

The UK was found to have unlawfully separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius before granting independence. Despite this, Britain initially resisted returning the islands, citing the ICJ’s ruling as merely “advisory.”

Under the deal between the UK and Mauritius, the former will retain control of the military base on Diego Garcia for the next 99 years.

The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius to allow the UK to lease Diego Garcia to the US for military purposes. The base has since been operated by the US.

The treaty is expected to include the right of return for Chagossians to all islands in the archipelago, except Diego Garcia.

India, it is believed, supported the agreement.

As Swarajya had reported earlier, this arrangement was seen as the most likely solution to satisfy the concerns of all parties, including India.

Given India's close ties with the Mauritius, including a base in its Agalega Island in the western Indian Ocean, Port Louis' sovereignty over Diego Garcia could potentially give India more influence in the Indian Ocean.