UK to cede Chagos to Mauritius in historic pact

The UK and Mauritius have reached a historic agreement to secure the U.K.-U.S. military base on Diego Garcia and restore Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago. The treaty is being finalized, and Mauritius will assume sovereignty over British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), with the U.K. authorized to exercise Mauritius’ sovereign rights on Diego Garcia. India’s Ministry of External Affairs welcomed the agreement, stating it completes the “decolonisation” of Mauritius and supports the Mauritian claim for sovereignty over Chagos.