Washington said the deal protected the long-term, secure and effective operation of the strategic military base.

India played a “quiet but important role in the background” during the negotiations, firmly backing the Mauritian position

For years, Mauritius demanded the UK end its control on the Chagos Archipelago. Why was their ownership a matter of contention, and what are the interests of countries like the US and India here? We explain.

The United Kingdom agrees to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius. India and the United States support this. The US military base at Diego Garcia remains for 99 years. India played an important background role and supported Mauritius's claim.

LONDON/PORT LOUIS, (REUTERS) – Britain said on October 3 it would cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a deal it said secured the future of the UK-U.S. Diego Garcia military base, and which could also pave the way for people displaced decades ago to return home. It is a region where India and China are in a contest of influence.

In a landmark pact, the UK recognizes Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia, amid Indian diplomatic support.

The British government agreed Thursday to hand sovereignty of the long-contested Chagos Islands, an archipelago of more than 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, to Mauritius, in a deal

Britain said on Thursday it would give up sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a deal that would allow people displaced decades ago to return home while London retained use of the important UK-U.

The UK announced Thursday giving up the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a deal that would allow people displaced decades ago to return home while the UK retains the use of the British-US military base on Diego Garcia.

Britain struck a deal to cede sovereignty over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius, while keeping control of a strategically important UK-US military base for another century.