Great Britain announced that, after over half a century, it had renounced the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago (a group of islands) in the Indian Ocean. Argentina intends to return full sovereignty over the islands.
Britain and Argentina went to war over the Falkland Islands in 1982, and London won.
The islands' ownership was again discussed in Argentina after President Milei came to power, who said he would consider returning them diplomatically.
The agreement reached after years of negotiations will mark the UK's historic transfer of the strategically important Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
This includes the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, which the US government uses as a military base for its Navy ships and long-range bomber aircraft.
A joint statement by the Prime Ministers of Great Britain and Mauritius ended decades of tense negotiations between the two countries.
The Diego Garcia military base will reportedly remain critical to allowing the deal to progress amid growing geopolitical competition between Western countries, India, and China.
The transaction must still be finalized and agreed upon in detail. The parties agreed to speed up the process as much as possible.
"This is an important moment in our relationship and demonstrates our continued commitment to peaceful dispute resolution and the rule of law," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said.
The leaders also stated that they are committed to "ensuring the long-term, safe, and effective operation of the Diego Garcia base, which plays a vital role in regional and global security."
Mauritius can also start a resettlement program in the Chagos Islands but not in Diego Garcia.
Great Britain will ensure the operation of the military base there for 99 years.
US President Joe Biden hailed the "historic agreement," saying it became "a clear indication that through diplomacy and partnership, countries can overcome long-standing historical challenges to achieve peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes."
After this deal, several well-known films have joked that the sun will set on the British Empire. Newspapers note that this may become a precedent for the smooth settlement of problems with Argentina regarding the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar regarding Gibraltar.
