Military Base's Security in Mind, UK to hand over Chagos Islands to Mauritius

Britain signed an agreement Thursday to hand sovereignty over the contested Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a move the government says ensures the future of a US-UK military base that is vital to British security.

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The Indian Ocean archipelago is home to a strategically important naval and bomber base on the largest of the islands, Diego Garcia. Under the agreement, the UK will pay Mauritius an average of 101 million pounds ($136 million) a year to lease back the base for at least 99 years. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that base, operated by US forces, is crucial for British counterterrorism and intelligence and is "right at the foundation of our safety and security at home." "By agreeing to this deal now on our terms, we're securing strong protections, including from malign influence, that will allow the base to operate well into the next centur