New Delhi: Resolving a more than 50-year-old dispute, the United Kingdom returned the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius Thursday. The agreement is the first major diplomatic achievement for the new Labour government and settles the status of a key United States military base.
With the agreement, which the UK said was an attempt to “address the wrongs”, the East African nation will be free to implement a resettlement programme on the islands, with UK financial support.
It will also ensure the continuation of operations at the military base on the island of Diego Garcia. Over 1,000 native Chagossians were forced to leave the Chagos Archipelago when the base was set up.
“In resolving all outstanding issues between the United Kingdom and Mauritius, the treaty will open a new chapter in our shared history, one which will continue to be based on mutual respect and trust as close Commonwealth partners committed to the security and prosperity of the Indian Ocean Region,” the UK-Mauritius joint statement said.
The announcement comes after two years of negotiations between the two countries and months after Keir Starmer took over as prime minister of the UK.
The countries thanked India for its support and assistance during the negotiations. India has been supportive of the Mauritian claim to the islands, with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar reiterating the stand in a statement during his visit to Mauritius earlier this year.
Half-century-long conflict
The dispute began in the 1960s when the UK, while granting Mauritius independence, separated the Chagos Archipelago from its territory.
While the majority of the islands were uninhabited, indigenous Chagossians were forced to leave when the UK and the US set up a military base in Diego Garcia.
In 1980, Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the founding father and then PM of Mauritius, first sought the return of the the chain of islands.
After 40 years of exile, Chagossians took the matter to the UK Supreme Court, seeking the right to return home. However, the court ruled against them, upholding the UK government’s decision to only allow army personnel and staff onto the island.
In 2019, however, Mauritius was able to claim a judicial victory when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled against the forceful and unlawful evacuation of residents and held that the UK should withdraw from the islands. Subsequently, 116 countries, including India, voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution demanding the UK’s withdrawal from the islands.
However, it took over three years for the UK government to take cognisance of the building international pressure against its continued control of the islands. In November 2022, then foreign secretary James Cleverly announced the start of the negotiations between the two countries.
Also Read: British tricked Indians into boarding slavery ships. Now Mauritius speaks Hindi, Bhojpuri
Operations to continue at Diego Garcia military base
The deal announced Thursday allows for operations to continue at the military base on Diego Garcia for at least the next 99 years, for which the UK will provide indexed annual payment alongside a financial support package.
The two countries, according to the joint statement, are committed to “long-term, secure and effective operation of the existing base on Diego Garcia, which plays a vital role in regional and global security”.
Diego Garcia is being used by the US government as a base in Africa, according to Politico “for its navy ships and long-range bomber aircraft”. The base, within striking distance of Africa, West Asia and Southeast Asia, is of serious strategic importance.
“Our deal, supported by our US partners, will protect international security, close a potential illegal migration route, and avert threats to peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy said.
Today the UK has reached an agreement with Mauritius, securing the vital military base on Diego Garcia.
Our deal, supported by our US partners, will protect international security, close a potential illegal migration route, and avert threats to peace and prosperity in the Indian…
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) October 3, 2024
US President Joe Biden applauded the agreement and called it “a clear demonstration that through diplomacy and partnership, countries can overcome long-standing historical challenges to reach peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes”.
Reaction in the UK
The agreement comes just within three months of the Labour government coming to power in the UK. Despite the negotiations being inherited from the previous Conservative government, the agreement, which still has to be finalised through a treaty, was criticised by its former leaders.
Cleverly, who opened these negotiations, called the Labour government “weak” for handing over part of British territory to Mauritius.
Weak, weak, weak!
Labour lied to get into office.
Said they’d be whiter than white, said they wouldn’t put up taxes, said they’d stand up to the EU, said that they be patriotic.
All lies! https://t.co/e998Xd6Tcx
— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) October 3, 2024
Former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said it a “deeply regrettable act” and Tory leader Tom Tugendhat called it a “shameful retreat undermining our security and leaving our allies exposed”.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
Also Read: US report blames BJP for deteriorating religious freedom in India. ‘Malicious, biased,’ says Centre