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The Chagos Islands are a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, strategically located outside the cyclone belt and equidistant from the east coast of Africa and Indonesia's Aceh. The islands have been at the center of a decades-long dispute between Mauritius and the UK.
After a long-standing dispute, the UK has agreed to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. This decision includes the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, which has been a crucial military base for both the UK and the US.
Diego Garcia serves as a vital military installation for the US, accommodating navy vessels and long-range bombers. Its strategic location makes it a critical component in regional and global security, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
Under the agreement, the UK will retain sovereignty over Diego Garcia for an initial period of 99 years. This arrangement ensures the continued functionality of the military base, which is essential for both British and American military operations.
The transfer of sovereignty has significant implications for the Chagossian people, who were forcibly removed from their homeland in the 1960s and 1970s. While some Chagossians are eager to return to their ancestral islands, others prioritize their rights and status within the UK. The UK government has indicated that it will provide financial assistance and support for a resettlement program on the Chagos Islands, excluding Diego Garcia.
The agreement was facilitated by extensive international pressure and legal rulings. The International Court of Justice recognized Mauritius's claims to sovereignty, and the UN General Assembly and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea endorsed these claims in 2019 and 2021. The UK faced growing diplomatic isolation regarding its claims to the British Indian Ocean Territory.
The future of the Chagos Islands remains uncertain, with varying opinions among Chagossians regarding their homeland's status. The UK government has indicated its commitment to resolving past injustices and ensuring the welfare of the Chagossian community. However, the perspectives of Chagossians have been systematically overlooked in the negotiations, leading to calls for full participation in the treaty drafting process.