LONDON — The U.K. agreed to pass sovereignty of the disputed Chagos Islands to Mauritius after decades of campaigning — with one big caveat.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth hailed a “seminal moment” Thursday as a political agreement was struck on the future of the islands, which have been called Britain’s last African colony and are home to a crucial U.S. and U.K. military base in the Indian Ocean.
Mauritius’ government has long argued it was forced to give the Chagos Islands away in return for its own independence from Britain in 1968. More than 1,000 islanders were forcibly removed at the request of the U.S., with some repeatedly taking the U.K. government to court.
The chain of islands in the Indian Ocean includes Diego Garcia — used by the U.S. government as a base for its navy ships and long-range bomber aircraft.
Under the agreement struck Thursday, Diego Garcia itself will remain under U.K. and U.S. jurisdiction for at least the next 99 years to allow the base to keep running.
But the joint statement says the deal “will address wrongs of the past and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the welfare of Chagossians.”
Mauritius will implement a program of resettlement on all islands apart from Diego Garcia, the agreement promises, while the U.K. will provide a package of financial support for infrastructure projects to boost economic development on the islands.
Britain only recently acknowledged Mauritius had any claim to the islands, and the political agreement — subject to a formal treaty — comes after years of negotiations that began under the last Conservative administration.
“This is a seminal moment in our relationship and a demonstration of our enduring commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the rule of law,” the two governments said in a joint statement.
A Downing Street spokesperson said Starmer had “reiterated the importance of reaching this deal to protect the continued operation of the U.K./U.S. military base on Diego Garcia.
“He underscored his steadfast duty to national and global security which underpinned the political agreement reached today.”
‘Deeply regrettable’
The move has already sparked some political controversy in the U.K.
Chagossian families celebrate on February 2019 the news that the United Nations’ top court had told Britain to give up control of the Indian Ocean archipelago. | Jean-Marc Poche/AFP via
Conservative former Defense Secretary Grant Shapps called it a “weak and deeply regrettable act.”
Tory leadership contender and Shadow Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said: “This is a shameful retreat undermining our security and leaving our allies exposed.
“The Foreign Office has negotiated against Britain’s interest and it was disgraceful that these negotiations started under our watch.”
Both sides said they want to complete the treaty underpinning the deal “as quickly as possible.”
