The United Kingdom has agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after decades of controversy, in a £1.1 billion settlement that ensures the long-term future of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.
The agreement, announced Thursday, ends Britain’s administration of the archipelago, which was detached from Mauritius in 1965 ahead of the island nation’s independence. Mauritius will now hold full control, while Britain retains operational use of Diego Garcia under a 99-year lease.
Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth described the pact as “a historic moment that corrects a grave injustice from the colonial era.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy called it “a balanced resolution that upholds strategic security and delivers moral accountability.”
The Diego Garcia base remains a cornerstone of Western military power in the Indian Ocean, supporting operations from the Gulf Wars to counter-piracy efforts. The United States endorsed the deal, stressing its importance for regional stability.
For the Chagossians, forcibly removed between 1968 and 1973, the agreement marks progress toward resettlement on the outer islands, though access to Diego Garcia itself will stay restricted for defense reasons. Community leader Olivier Bancoult welcomed the sovereignty transfer but urged further steps for full return and compensation.
The treaty awaits parliamentary approval in both nations and is expected to pass without significant hurdles. It resolves one of Britain’s longest-standing post-colonial disputes while preserving a vital strategic asset in the Indo-Pacific.
