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.

Britain signed an agreement Thursday to hand sovereignty over the contested Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a move the government says ensures the future of a US-UK military base that is vital to British security.

Britain has signed a deal with Mauritius to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands while retaining control of the Diego Garcia airbase under a 99-year lease. Despite legal challenges and political criticism,

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).