The tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, which is home to a US and UK military station and is vital to the stability of the area and global security, is part of the Indian Ocean archipelago that will be transferred to Mauritius.
As per the deal, the base will be governed by the United Kingdom and the United States for a minimum of 99 years.
Politics is the newest as a “major” infrastructure announcement is hinted at.
The treaty would “address wrongs of the past and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the welfare” of the islands’ indigenous Chagossians, according to the UK government.
The decision was praised as “mutually beneficial” by US President Joe Biden and as a “win for diplomacy” by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The move has been dubbed “weak” by a number of prominent Conservatives. Former security minister Tom Tugendhat termed it a “shameful retreat undermining our security and leaving our allies exposed”.
There are worries that the next Mauritian administration won’t follow through on the deal and will let China, which has significant financial ties to Mauritius, seize control of the base.
