The UK government has announced that it has reached an agreement with Mauritius to settle long-standing sovereignty disputes over a group of islands in the Indian Ocean. In a significant step forward the deal coming after years of discussions will result in the UK transferring control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The largest island in the archipelago, Diego Garcia, is a part of the agreement and will continue to be used as a joint military base by the United States and the United Kingdom. According to the government, a political agreement between the UK and Mauritius will result in the base's status being undisputed and legally secure for the first time in more than 50 years.

Prime Ministers of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth and the United Kingdom Keir Starmer released a statement that said, "Following two years of negotiation, this is a seminal moment in our relationship and a demonstration of our enduring commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the rule of law." The statement added, "Under the terms of this treaty the United Kingdom will agree that Mauritius is sovereign over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia.”

"At the same time, both our countries are committed to the need, and will agree in the treaty, to ensure the long-term, secure and effective operation of the existing base on Diego Garcia which plays a vital role in regional and global security." According to the Foreign Office, the United States supports the agreement. The agreement, according to US President Joe Biden, "secures the effective operation" of the Diego Garcia military base, which he said "plays a vital role in national, regional, and global security." Biden praised the announcement.

David Lammy, the foreign secretary, stated, “Today’s agreement secures this vital military base for the future. 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 UK, as well as guarantee our long-term relationship with Mauritius, a close Commonwealth partner.” The government also announced that, with the exception of the military base island of Diego Garcia, Mauritius will now be in charge of any future arrivals and be able to implement a resettlement program on the Chagos Islands.

However, some Conservative Party members criticised the announcement. Hopeful for a Tory leadership role Robert Jenrick had harsh criticisms regarding the British Indian Ocean Territory agreement. “It’s taken three months for (Sir Keir) Starmer to surrender Britain’s strategic interests,” he expressed. “This is a dangerous capitulation that will hand our territory to an ally of Beijing.”

James Cleverly, a former foreign secretary, criticised the choice as well, saying, “Weak, weak, weak! Labour lied to get into office. Said they’d be whiter than white, said they wouldn’t put up taxes, said they’d stand up to the EU, said that they be patriotic. All lies!”

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson voiced concerns last month regarding the move, which was still pending negotiation. Calling Mauritius's claim to the islands "preposterous," he called any handover "utterly spineless" and said the UK appeared to be "on the verge of a colossal mistake" that could "play into China's hands". These concerns were denied by the Foreign Office.

The islands are claimed by Mauritius, which declared independence in 1968, and Chagossians have filed lawsuits in British courts demanding the right to return. More than 1,000 Chagossians were forced to flee the islands in the 1960s and 1970s to make room for the military base, and they have been fighting to return for decades.

Many consider the expulsions to be among the most repugnant episodes in British modern colonial history. As of now, thousands of Chagossians call the UK, the Seychelles, and Mauritius home. The International Court of Justice, the highest court of the United Nations, previously declared that the UK's governance of the region was "unlawful" and had to cease.