The spokesperson for the Secretary General of the United Nations informed the media on Thursday that the Secretary General is pleased with the signing of the agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius regarding the Chagos Archipelago, which includes Diego Garcia.
On Thursday, Britain finalized an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the disputed Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a decision that the government claims secure the future of a crucial U.S.-U.K. military base essential for British security.
“This agreement signifies a major advancement in resolving a long-standing conflict in the Indian Ocean region, and it highlights the importance of diplomacy in addressing historical issues,” stated Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the Secretary General of the United Nations, during a press briefing on Thursday.
The archipelago in the Indian Ocean hosts a strategically significant naval and bomber base located on the largest island, Diego Garcia.
According to the agreement, the United Kingdom will compensate Mauritius with an average of 101 million pounds ($136 million) annually to lease the base for a minimum of 99 years.
This agreement was reached despite opposition from some of the original inhabitants of the islands, who were displaced decades ago to facilitate the establishment of the base.
As one of the last vestiges of the British Empire, the Chagos Islands have been under British control since 1814.
In 1965, Britain separated the islands from Mauritius, which was then a British colony, just three years prior to Mauritius achieving independence.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Britain forcibly removed approximately 2,000 residents from the islands to allow the U.S. military to construct the Diego Garcia base, which has supported U.S. military operations from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan.
The base is equipped to host nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, and large aircraft, playing a vital role in U.S. intelligence operations.
Mauritius has consistently challenged Britain’s claim to the archipelago, and both the United Nations and its highest court have called on Britain to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, located about 2,100 kilometers (1,250 miles) southwest of the islands.
