News coverage and reports from international human rights organizations

US, UK, and Mauritius Finalize 99-Year Diego Garcia Lease; Biden Supports, Chagossians to Return

Dec 7, 2024, 01:31 PM

The United States and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement with Mauritius to extend the lease of the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years. Diego Garcia, a strategically significant island in the Indian Ocean, serves as a critical base for U.S. military operations. The deal, supported by U.S. President Joe Biden, reportedly allows the native Chagossians, who were previously displaced, to return to their homeland, while ensuring that the U.S. military retains exclusive access to the base. The agreement also aligns with a UK-Mauritius sovereignty deal, underscoring the importance of Diego Garcia for U.S. naval and geopolitical strategy, amid ongoing debates about its sovereignty and the role of the U.S. in the region.