UK inks deal to hand control of Chagos islands to Mauritius

The UK has inked a deal to hand over the control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, in which a vital military base will be leased back, the BBC reported on May 22nd.

The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said the deal was the only means of sustaining the base’s future and that it enhanced his country’s national security.

The agreement stipulates that Mauritius would attain sovereignty of the Islands from the UK, but the UK and the US will still be able to run a military base on Diego Garcia, which is one of the Islands. Initially, the western countries will be able to operate the base for 99 years.

BBC