The UK has signed a 99-year agreement with Mauritius to retain operational control of the Diego Garcia base, a key UK-US defense hub in the Indian Ocean.

The UK and Mauritius agreed to a deal regarding the sovereignty of an Indian Ocean archipelago, including control over a key strategic military base in the region, ending a long-running negotiation that had become a point of controversy for British premier Keir Starmer.

Under the agreement, the United Kingdom will pay Mauritius 101 million pounds ($136 million) per year to lease back the Chagos Island base for at least 99 years.

Emirates and Air Mauritius have renewed a longstanding partnership which includes a reciprocal codesharing agreement on select routes beyond the gateways of each partner airline, as well as cooperation on frequent flyer programmes and cargo handling services.

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

Mauritius is emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing wealth markets, with its millionaire population projected to double by 2033. Now, the island nation is working to harness the boom — and shed its reputation as a tax haven.