Britain has signed an agreement to transmit sovereignty over the disputed Mauritius Chagos Islands

The UK has signed an agreement on the transmission of Mauritius to sovereignty over the controversial and strategically located Chagos Islands – a move that, according to the government, guarantees the future of the US -British military base there, the Associated Press reported.

On the largest island in the Indian Ocean Archipelago, Diego Garcia, has a strategically important naval and air base for bombers.

Under the agreement, the UK will pay Mauritius £ 101 million ($ 136 million) a year to buy the right to use a base for at least 99 years.

British Prime Minister Kir Starmer said the US -governed base is critically important for counteracting terrorism and UK intelligence and is « at the heart of our safety and security at home. »

The signing was delayed by a few hours after a British judge at the last minute blocked the agreement. However, a second judge overturned this decision.

The first judge blocked the signing for a case brought by two women from the indigenous Chagos Islands, who represent the inhabitants of the island decades ago to make room for the construction of the US base. Residents fear that after Mauritius has taken control of the islands for them, it will become even more difficult to return to their native land.

The second judge, however, said that « the public interest and interests of the UK would be significantly impaired » by a possible delay in the signing of the agreement.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Britain emigrated 2,000 people from the islands so that the US army could build the base of Diego Garcia, the AP said. The base supports US military operations from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan.