UK: Chagos Islands Deal Was About Securing US Military Base
Britain has acknowledged that its decision to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius was primarily driven by the need to retain control over a strategic military base in the Indian Ocean, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed.
Last week, the Labour government announced plans to hand over the Chagos Islands, its last African colony, to Mauritius, ending decades of dispute. The largest island, Diego Garcia, has housed a significant US military base since 1966, when its 2,000 inhabitants were forcibly relocated.
"This is a victory for diplomacy. We’ve secured the base for the long term," Lammy stated in Parliament, addressing criticism from opposition members that the deal surrendered Diego Garcia. "It’s critical for our national security. The deal benefits the UK, the US, and Mauritius," he added.
Lammy highlighted US support for the agreement, which was necessary to avoid a potential ruling against the UK by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In 2019, the ICJ had advised that the UK should cede the islands to Mauritius.
The new agreement ensures the continued operation of the Diego Garcia base, with the UK retaining control for 99 years in exchange for recognizing Mauritian sovereignty.
The deal has sparked opposition, with former Conservative immigration minister Robert Jenrick accusing Lammy of appeasing "the global diplomatic elite." He criticized the handover as a concession to a small nation allied with China.
Meanwhile, Argentina has used the occasion to renew its claim over the Falkland Islands, prompting Lammy to reaffirm that British sovereignty over the Falklands remains non-negotiable.
Lammy also acknowledged the "deeply wrong" forced removal of the Chagossian people. However, some Chagossians currently living in the UK protested the deal, as they were not consulted.
"This is a victory for diplomacy. We’ve secured the base for the long term," Lammy stated in Parliament, addressing criticism from opposition members that the deal surrendered Diego Garcia. "It’s critical for our national security. The deal benefits the UK, the US, and Mauritius," he added.
Lammy highlighted US support for the agreement, which was necessary to avoid a potential ruling against the UK by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In 2019, the ICJ had advised that the UK should cede the islands to Mauritius.
The new agreement ensures the continued operation of the Diego Garcia base, with the UK retaining control for 99 years in exchange for recognizing Mauritian sovereignty.
The deal has sparked opposition, with former Conservative immigration minister Robert Jenrick accusing Lammy of appeasing "the global diplomatic elite." He criticized the handover as a concession to a small nation allied with China.
Meanwhile, Argentina has used the occasion to renew its claim over the Falkland Islands, prompting Lammy to reaffirm that British sovereignty over the Falklands remains non-negotiable.
Lammy also acknowledged the "deeply wrong" forced removal of the Chagossian people. However, some Chagossians currently living in the UK protested the deal, as they were not consulted.
