Fri May 30 01:58:42 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, with an Indian perspective:
**Mauritius Gains Sovereignty Over Chagos Islands in Landmark Deal, While UK Secures Diego Garcia Base**
**New Delhi – May 30, 2025** – In a move welcomed by India, Mauritius has officially regained sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including the strategic island of Diego Garcia, after a historic agreement finalized with the United Kingdom on May 22, 2025. The agreement, reached after protracted negotiations and supported by both India and the United States, marks a significant milestone in the decolonization process and aims to foster long-term security in the Indian Ocean region.
Under the terms of the treaty, the UK will lease Diego Garcia, home to a crucial naval and bomber base operated by U.S. forces, from Mauritius for 99 years at a cost of £101 million a year. This arrangement addresses UK security concerns, preventing other nations, potentially including China, from establishing a military presence in the area.
The handover comes after decades of dispute, rooted in the UK’s detachment of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius in 1968, prior to Mauritian independence. This detachment, which involved the forced displacement of approximately 10,000 Chagossians, was challenged by Mauritius as a violation of UN resolutions.
India has played a crucial, albeit quiet, role in supporting Mauritius’s claim, advocating for a mutually beneficial resolution that upholds the principles of decolonization and respect for territorial integrity.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a statement affirming India’s support for Mauritius’s “legitimate claim” over the Chagos Archipelago. The MEA emphasized India’s commitment to working with Mauritius and other like-minded nations to bolster maritime security, peace, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean.
While the deal secures the future of the U.S. military base on Diego Garcia, it has faced some opposition. Two Chagossians are seeking the right to return to Chagos instead of Mauritius or Seychelles, while the UK Conservative Party have concerns regarding sovereignty.
The agreement includes provisions for a £40 million trust fund to support Chagossians, but prevents resettlement on Diego Garcia. Mauritius will also take responsibility for preventing the islands from being used as an illegal migration route to the UK. A 24-mile buffer has been agreed to around Diego Garcia has been agreed to where nothing can be built without U.K. consent.
The agreement, subject to parliamentary approval in both countries, is being lauded by many as a victory for Mauritius and a step towards a more stable and secure Indian Ocean region, with India playing a key supporting role.
First Piper 