UK to hand over sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius after decades-long dispute

The UK will hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after a decades-long dispute.

The deal to transfer the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius includes the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, which is home to a military base used by the UK and US and plays a crucial role in stability and the international security of the region.

Under the terms of the agreement, the base will remain under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom and the United States for at least the next 99 years.

Follow live political updates

The British government said the treaty would “right the wrongs of the past and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to supporting the welfare” of the Chagossians, the indigenous people of the islands.

Several leading conservatives called the decision “weak”, with former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat saying it was a “shameful withdrawal that undermines our security and exposes our allies”.

Since 1971, only Diego Garcia has been inhabited – by US military employees – after the UK expelled the Chagossians at the request of the US. Some have moved to Mauritius and others have lived in the UK, in Crawley, West Sussex, since 2002.

The islands were a dependency of Mauritius when it was a French colony, but both were ceded to the United Kingdom in 1845. Mauritius gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1968 and has since claimed the Chagos Archipelago as Mauritian.

Foreign Minister David Lammy said: “This government inherited a situation in which the long-term secure operation of the Diego Garcia military base was under threat, with disputed sovereignty and ongoing legal challenges.

“Today’s agreement secures this vital military base for the future.

“This will strengthen our role in safeguarding global security, eliminate any possibility of the Indian Ocean being used as a dangerous route for illegal migration to the UK, and also secure our long-term relationship with Mauritius, a close partner of the Commonwealth.”

US President Joe Biden welcomed the decision, saying: “I applaud this historic agreement.

“It is a clear demonstration that through diplomacy and partnership, countries can overcome long-standing historical challenges to achieve peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes.”

The agreement is subject to the finalization of a treaty and related legal instruments, with Mauritius and the United Kingdom committing to conclude it “as quickly as possible”.

This breaking news story is currently being updated and more details will be released shortly.

Please refresh the page for the full version.

You can receive news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to follow the latest news.