Historic Agreement Reached: UK Grants Sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius While Retaining Control of Diego Garcia Base
On Thursday, October 3, 2023, the British government announced a significant agreement to transfer sovereignty of the long-disputed Chagos Islands, an archipelago of over 60 islands located in the Indian Ocean, to Mauritius. This deal also ensures the future of a strategically important military base at Diego Garcia, which is the largest in the chain of islands. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized that this agreement secures the vital military presence for the UK and its ally, the United States. The UK government indicated that without this deal, the operational security of the military base could be jeopardized due to ongoing disputes relating to sovereignty and potential legal challenges in various international forums.
As part of the accord, the UK will retain sovereignty over Diego Garcia for an initial term of 99 years. Lammy asserted that this arrangement would not only bolster the UK's role in maintaining global security but also curtail the potential for the Indian Ocean to become a route for illegal migration to the UK. The agreement is also seen as a means of solidifying the long-term relationship between the UK and Mauritius, which is regarded as a close partner within the Commonwealth.
Internationally, the agreement has garnered substantial backing, particularly from the United States. British officials confirmed that while the deal marks a significant step forward, it will require formalization through a treaty and is contingent upon the completion of several legal processes. Both the UK and Mauritius have committed to expedite these processes.
The genesis of this dispute dates back to 1965 when the Chagos Islands were removed from Mauritius, a UK territory that attained independence three years later. The US Navy established its base at Diego Garcia in the 1970s, describing it as an essential node for security operations throughout the Middle East, South Asia, and East Africa. This base was constructed after the displacement of approximately 1,500 inhabitants from the Chagos Islands, many of whom were uprooted from their homes to accommodate the facility. Questions regarding the right to return for these individuals and their descendants, many of whom now reside in the UK, Mauritius, and the Seychelles, remain unresolved.
In response to the agreement, the White House issued a statement applauding the historic resolution of the Chagos Islands' status. President Joe Biden highlighted the importance of the Diego Garcia base in upholding national, regional, and global security. The agreement, as stated, secures the operational integrity of this joint facility well into the next century while affirming Mauritian sovereignty and granting the UK authority to manage the rights concerning Diego Garcia.
This landmark deal represents a critical juncture in the long-standing territorial dispute and sets the stage for future cooperation between the UK and Mauritius, along with implications for international relations in the Indian Ocean region.
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