US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for the agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius on the transfer of the Chagos Archipelago, where the joint US-British military base Diego Garcia is located. This was stated in a release by the US Department of State.
Rubio called the agreement “historic” and noted that it ensures the continued operation of the Diego Garcia base. He also assured that the US will continue to take responsibility for maintaining the naval base on Diego Garcia, which plays a key role in regional security and supporting operational forces.
Earlier on Thursday, the UK signed a treaty to transfer the archipelago in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius. The largest island hosts the strategically important military facility.
According to the terms of the agreement, the UK will lease the base from Mauritius for at least 99 years, with the option to extend for another 40 years, paying an annual rent of £101 million. Additionally, the UK will finance development programs for the Chagos Islands and assume full responsibility for the base’s defense and security.
The Chagos Islands have been under British control since 1814. In 1965, the UK separated the archipelago from Mauritius, which gained independence in 1968.
In the 1960s and 1970s, about two thousand local residents were relocated from the islands to clear the area for the construction of the Diego Garcia military base. This base has served as an important hub for US military operations from Vietnam to conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
