U.K. Transfers Chagos Islands to Mauritius: What It Means for U.S. Military Presence

LONDON — The UK just struck a significant deal to hand the Chagos Islands back to Mauritius. This agreement will keep the crucial U.S. military base on Diego Garcia operational.

The Chagos Islands lie in the Indian Ocean. Under this new deal, the UK can lease Diego Garcia for at least 99 years, which is vital for both British and American military interests.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the agreement, stating that President Trump expressed support for it during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer emphasized the importance of the military base for national security, highlighting that it contributes to defense and intelligence operations.

For Mauritius, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam called the deal a “major victory” and part of their commitment to decolonization. The Chagos Archipelago has a complicated history. It became a British territory in 1814, but in 1965, the UK separated it from Mauritius before the latter gained independence. This move led to the forced removal of thousands of residents to make way for the U.S. military base.

Mauritius has long claimed that the UK’s actions were illegal. International courts, including the International Court of Justice in The Hague, have sided with Mauritius in the past, stating that the decolonization process was not completed lawfully. A UN maritime court also rejected the UK’s sovereignty claim in 2021.

Despite this deal, opinions among the Chagossian community are mixed. Some support the agreement, believing it could lead to better outcomes for their people. Others, however, including local politicians, argue it falls short of their right to return to their homeland. Peter Lamb, the local MP for Crawley, expressed concern over the moral implications of negotiating such an agreement while denying their self-determination rights.

Critics of the deal, including some opposition leaders, argue it undermines the UK’s territorial integrity and could strengthen adversarial nations like China. Right-wing populist leader Nigel Farage labeled the agreement as detrimental to British interests.

In summary, the Chagos Islands deal signifies a major shift in the UK-Mauritius relationship, affecting local communities, military strategies, and international relations. The balance between maintaining military bases and addressing historical grievances continues to spark debate. This ongoing situation reflects the complexities of colonial legacies and the struggles for self-determination in today’s world.



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