KEY POINTS
- UK consents to give Mauritius control of the Chagos Islands in exchange for keeping Diego Garcia Military Base.
- In order to maintain stability in the region, US President Biden hailed the accord.
- In the UK, worries are raised about possible Chinese influence and the marginalization of Chagossian inhabitants.
Under a new agreement, the UK has consented to give Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos Islands while maintaining strategic command of the Diego Garcia military post. In addition to resolving decades of territorial dispute, the agreement allows for the potential resettlement of the displaced residents of Chagos Island.
Securing Diego Garcia’s future
Diego Garcia, a vital airstrip leased to the United States that has been crucial to maintaining regional peace, will remain secure thanks to the agreement, the British government declared on Thursday. In his remarks, US President Joe Biden praised the base’s importance to regional, national, and international security while applauding the accord.
“It enables the United States to support operations that demonstrate our shared commitment to regional stability, provide rapid response to crises, and counter significant security threats,” Biden stated.
According to British Foreign Minister David Lammy, this agreement ensures the base will remain operating for a minimum of 99 years. He emphasized that settling the disagreement over the islands’ sovereignty would enable Britain to concentrate on defending international security.
The Chagos Islands had been a British overseas territory since being detached from Mauritius in 1965, with Diego Garcia leased to the US in 1966 for military purposes.
Concerns over sovereignty and China’s influence
The arrangement caused controversy in the UK even though the announcement was made in a positive light. A number of critics, mostly from the Conservative Party in Britain, called it a “capitulation” that would be advantageous to China.
According to Reuters, Tom Tugendhat, a Tory security spokesman, reportedly cautioned that the agreement might jeopardize Britain’s allies and raise the possibility of more Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region.
Leading Conservative Robert Jenrick warned, “This is a dangerous capitulation that will hand our territory to an ally of Beijing.”
In a speech that was broadcast on television, Mauritius’ prime minister, Pravind Jugnauth, stressed that the accord is a significant step toward the island nation’s decolonization. Under the deal, Mauritius has been granted the right to implement resettlement programs on the Chagos Islands, excluding Diego Garcia, whose control remains with the United States.
Chagos islanders left out
Although some celebrated the deal as a historic turning point, Chagossian groups voiced displeasure at having been excluded from the talks. The head of the Chagos Refugees Group, situated in Mauritius, Olivier Bancoult, hailed the recognition of historical injustices and called the action a turning point.
The British diaspora organization Chagossian Voices, however, objected to their exclusion, saying that “Chagossians remain powerless and voiceless in determining our own future and the future of our homeland.”
David Blagden, an associate professor of international security and strategy at the University of Exeter, stated that he believes the agreement represents a “big win” for Mauritius. Blagden proposed that in order to draw Chinese investment and impede US-UK operations in Diego Garcia, Mauritius might use its newly acquired authority over the islands.
While the deal marks progress on the longstanding dispute over the Chagos Islands, it has also triggered fresh debates over sovereignty, global security, and the impact of international diplomacy.
