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<p>On 25 February the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an Advisory Opinion
on the Legal Consequences of the Separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius
in 1965. An Advisory Opinion is not a judgment. We are considering the detail carefully,
including consulting cross-Whitehall and with our overseas posts. The defence facilities
on the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) help to protect people here in Britain
and around the world from terrorist threats, organised crime and piracy. The UK has
a longstanding commitment to cede sovereignty over BIOT when we no longer need the
territory to help keep us and others safe.</p>
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