The United Kingdom is preparing to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending a decades-long dispute.
The deal to hand over the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius includes the Diego Garcia tropical reef complex, home to a major military base used by the UK and US, which plays a key role in the stability and security of the region.
Under the terms of the transfer, the base will remain under UK and US jurisdiction for at least the next 99 years.
The UK government said the treaty would "address the wrongs of the past and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the well-being" of the island's indigenous people.
Secretary of State David Lammy said of the deal: “This government inherited a situation where the long-term and secure operation of the Diego Garcia military base was under threat, with disputed sovereignty and ongoing legal challenges. The agreement ensures the presence of the military base for the future. It will strengthen our role in maintaining global security, rule out any possibility of the Indian Ocean being used as a dangerous illegal immigration route to the UK and ensure our long-term relationship with Mauritius, a close Commonwealth partner ".