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).

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.

Several American fighter jets have been deployed to a secretive UK - US base in the Indian Ocean to protect assets there, according to reports. Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Islands which the UK controversially plans to hand over to Mauritius, is home to aircraft including long-range American B-52 Stratofrotress bombers.