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 ...

The island is an important forward operating base for the U.S. Air Force 's bomber fleet. Two B-52H strategic bombers deployed to Diego Garcia from late March to early April.

Britain said on Thursday it would cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a deal it said secured the future of the UK-U.S. Diego Garcia military base, and which could also pave the ...