The British government has handed control of the strategically significant Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after the controversial move survived an eleventh-hour legal challenge and months of criticism on both sides of the Atlantic.

India has expressed its support for the treaty signed between the United Kingdom and Mauritius, which aims to restore Mauritian sovereignty over the C

In a treaty to “complete the process of decolonisation of Mauritius”, the Government has agreed to pay at least £120 million-a-year for 99 years for control of the vital Diego Garcia base, plus hand over £1.125 billion for economic development over a 25-year period.

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The islands, named after a Spanish navigator, have a basically symbolic British presence. The United Kingdom hands over the Chagos archipelago (and the massive US base on Diego Garcia island) to Mauritius (and to the Chinese fishing fleet).

A heated exchange took place on GB News this evening as a guest confronted Labour MP Barry Gardiner over what he described as "giving away" British territory only to lease it back. The confrontation comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed an agreement formally ceding British control of the Chagos Archipelago to the Mauritian government,

The United Kingdom agreed to cede its control over the Chagos Islands to the Republic of Mauritius in an agreement signed between the two countries on Thursday.