Milestone achievement: India hails resolution of longstanding Chagos dispute

London/New Delhi: Terming it as a “milestone achievement” and a “positive development for the region”, India on Thursday welcomed the signing of the treaty between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius on the return of Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia.

“India has consistently supported Mauritius’s legitimate claim over the Chagos Archipelago in keeping with its principled position on decolonization, respect for sovereignty, and the territorial integrity of nations. As a steadfast and longstanding partner of Mauritius, India remains committed to working closely with Mauritius and other like-minded countries to strengthen maritime security and regional stability and ensure peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region,” read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

“The formal resolution of the longstanding Chagos dispute through this bilateral treaty is a milestone achievement and a positive development for the region. This is further to the understanding between the two sides reached in October 2024, and marks the culmination of the process of decolonization of Mauritius in the spirit of international law and rules-based order,” it stated.

The United Kingdom on Thursday announced that it has signed a landmark agreement with Mauritius to secure the future of the strategically critical UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, one of our most significant contributions to the transatlantic defence and security partnership.

It said that all ‘Five Eyes’ partners – the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand – back the agreement, “along with India”, in recognising the critical role Diego Garcia plays in upholding global stability and deterring adversaries. (IANS)

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