Mauritius

The UK announced Thursday a "historic" agreement: Britain will cede sovereignty of the far-flung Chagos Islands to Mauritius, but keep for itself the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The British Indian Ocean Territory status, or BIOT, applied to the disputed archipelago comprising nearly 60 islands, has long been a matter of controversy, with talks over its future starting under the previous Conservative Party government in 2022.

The UK announced Thursday a "historic" agreement: Britain will cede sovereignty of the far-flung Chagos Islands to Mauritius, but keep for itself the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The British Indian Ocean Territory status, or BIOT, applied to the disputed archipelago comprising nearly 60 islands, has long been a matter of controversy, with talks over its future starting under the previous Conservative Party government in 2022.

MEA of India has welcomed the agreement, citing that it finalizes the decolonization process for Mauritius. The MEA announced in a statement, "We welcome the agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius on the return of Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago, including Diego Garcia." The announcement is reflective of India's continuous support for Mauritius in its quest for sovereignty over the islands.