UK hands sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius

The UK has declared that it will relinquish control over a distant yet strategically significant group of islands in the Indian Ocean after being in charge for over 50 years.

After years of talks, the agreement will result in the UK transferring control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a groundbreaking decision.

This encompasses the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, which the US government utilizes as a military facility for its naval vessels and long-range bombers.

The declaration, issued in a collaborative statement by the Prime Ministers of the UK and Mauritius, brings to a close years of sometimes contentious discussions between the two nations.

The US-UK military base will continue to operate on Diego Garcia, which is crucial for advancing the agreement amid increasing geopolitical tensions in the area involving Western nations, India, and China.

The agreement still needs a final treaty to be completed, but both parties have committed to finishing this process as soon as they can.

"This marks a pivotal point in our partnership and showcases our long-standing dedication to resolving disagreements peacefully and upholding the law," the joint statement from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth stated.

The leaders expressed their dedication to "guaranteeing the ongoing, safe, and efficient functioning of the current base on Diego Garcia, which is crucial for both regional and global security."

The agreement will also "acknowledge past injustices and show that both sides are dedicated to promoting the well-being of the Chagossian community."

The UK is set to offer financial assistance to Mauritius, which will include yearly payments as well as investments in infrastructure.

Mauritius will also be allowed to start a resettlement initiative in the Chagos Islands, though this will not extend to Diego Garcia.

There, the UK will maintain the operation of the military base for an initial term of 99 years.

US President Joe Biden praised the "landmark deal," stating that it shows how nations can address deep-rooted historical issues and achieve peaceful, mutually advantageous results through diplomacy and collaboration.

He stated that it has ensured the future of an important military installation that is essential for security at the national, regional, and global levels.

Frankie Bontemps, a second-generation Chagossian living in the UK, expressed to the BBC that he felt "betrayed" and "angry" upon hearing the news, stating that "Chagossians have never had a say" in the discussions.

"We find ourselves without influence or a say in shaping our future and the future of our country," he stated, urging for complete participation of the Chagossian community in the treaty-making process.

In the past few years, the UK has increasingly found itself diplomatically isolated regarding its assertion of the area known as the British Indian Ocean Territory. Numerous United Nations organizations, including its highest court and the general assembly, have largely supported Mauritius, urging the UK to relinquish what many consider its "final colony in Africa."

The Mauritian government has consistently claimed that it was unlawfully pressured into ceding the Chagos Islands in exchange for gaining its independence from the United Kingdom in 1968.

During that period, the British government had secretly come to an agreement with the United States to rent out the largest atoll, Diego Garcia, for the purpose of establishing a military base.

Britain subsequently expressed regrets for the forced relocation of over 1,000 island residents from the entire group of islands. The country also committed to returning the islands to Mauritius once they were no longer required for military or strategic reasons.

However, until just recently, the UK maintained that Mauritius did not have a valid claim to the islands.

For many years, the small island nation of Mauritius faced difficulties in gaining significant international assistance regarding this matter.

A small group of Chagos islanders, who were compelled to leave their homes in the late 1960s and early 1970s, frequently challenged the British government in court.

However, it was not until lately that global perspectives started to change.

African countries started to unite their voices regarding the matter, strongly urging the UK to address the topic of decolonization.

As a result of Brexit, numerous European countries became hesitant to support the UK’s position in international discussions.

The Mauritian government took a stand, claiming that the UK government had issued verbal threats.

The people of Mauritius started to launch a more advanced campaign through various channels, such as the United Nations, legal battles, and media outreach. They even went so far as to arrive on the islands and place their flag there without permission from the British.

The discussions that led to the agreement made on Thursday started during the time of the former UK government.

However, the timing of this significant development highlights an increasing urgency in global relations, especially concerning Ukraine. The UK is eager to address the Chagos situation to eliminate it as a hindrance to gaining broader international backing, particularly from African countries, especially with the possibility of another Trump presidency on the horizon.

The Chagos islanders have differing opinions about the future of their homeland, with some residing in Mauritius and the Seychelles, while others live in Crawley, Sussex.

Some people are set on going back to the remote islands, while others prioritize their rights and position in the UK. There are also those who believe that the status of the Chagos archipelago shouldn’t be decided by people from outside the region.

It's likely that there will be criticism from certain groups in the UK, despite the fact that both Conservative and Labour prime ministers have been aiming for similar objectives over the years.

Tory leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat claimed that the agreement was reached to the detriment of Britain's interests, describing it as "shameful" that discussions had started during the previous Conservative administration.

He referred to it as a "disgraceful withdrawal that jeopardizes our safety and puts our allies at risk," while the former foreign secretary, James Cleverly, described it as a "feeble" agreement.

However, there's no question about the importance of this moment in history.

More than fifty years after the UK lost control of most of its extensive global empire, it has ultimately consented to transfer one of the final remaining territories. This decision might have come with some hesitance, but it was made in a calm and lawful manner.

The other British overseas territories include Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Antarctic Territory, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands, as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands. Additionally, there are two sovereign base areas on Cyprus that fall under British control.