Statement from US Secretary of Defense on an Agreement between Mauritius and the UK on the status of the Chagos Archipelago.
~
Press Release, Washington DC, 04 October 2024: The Department of Defense commends yesterday’s historic agreement between the Republic of Mauritius and the United Kingdom on the status of the Chagos Archipelago. The DoD is confident that the negotiations between the two countries has resulted in an agreement that will protect the long-term, secure, and effective operation of the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia.
For decades, Diego Garcia has played a critical role in national, regional, and global security, and our ability to respond to crises and counter complex, challenging security threats. This agreement will safeguard the strategic security interests of the United Kingdom, Mauritius, and the United States, as well as our partners in the Indo-Pacific region into the next century.
The Department of Defense reaffirms the special defence relationship with the United Kingdom and looks forward to advancing a strategic defence partnership with Mauritius. Collectively, we will face shared security challenges, and promote regional cooperation in one of the world’s most critical maritime regions.
~