LONDON (AP) — The U.K. has agreed to hand sovereignty of the long-contested Chagos Islands, an archipelago of more than 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, to Mauritius, in a deal to secure the future of a strategically important U.K.-U.S. military base at Diego Garcia.
In a statement Thursday, the British government said the agreement is strongly supported by international partners including the U.S.
“Today’s agreement secures this vital military base for the future," said British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
“It will strengthen our role in safeguarding global security, shut down any possibility of the Indian Ocean being used as a dangerous illegal migration route to the U.K., as well as guaranteeing our long-term relationship with Mauritius, a close Commonwealth partner," he added.
The Associated Press
