WASHINGTON, Feb 18: The United States will conduct negotiations with Mauritius to underscore the importance of the Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos archipelago, the US Department of State said.
“From February 23-25, the United States and Mauritius will hold discussions in Port Louis led by the Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, with participation from across the U.S. interagency. These discussions underscore the continued importance of the Chagos archipelago and the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia to our national security,” the Department of State said in a statement.
The negotiations will focus on security cooperation between the two countries, as well as arrangements aimed at ensuring the base’s operation.
“The United States supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago. The United States reiterates its desire to conclude a bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom to guarantee continued use of basing and other facilities in the Chagos archipelago to advance U.S. national security, as well as security and stability across the Indian Ocean,” the statement added.
On October 3, 2024, the UK provisionally agreed to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The agreement included provisions under which the UK would provide financial support and infrastructure investment to Mauritius while retaining control of the airbase on the island of Diego Garcia of the archipelago for 99 years.
In February, UK Foreign Minister David Lammy said that a deal on handing over sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius would not happen without US President Donald Trump’s approval. In April, Trump approved the deal.
Mauritius, for decades, has challenged UK sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, but it was not until 2019 that the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution urging the UK to give up the islands.
(UNI)
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