- The UK will transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
- Displaced residents can return, while access to Diego Garcia remains.
- The agreement is backed by the US and India.
- It follows a 2019 court ruling on the wrongful eviction of residents.
The United Kingdom has announced its decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a move that aims to facilitate the return of people displaced from the islands decades ago. This agreement, however, allows the UK to maintain its operational use of the British-US military base located on Diego Garcia.
On Thursday, the UK government clarified that the arrangement protects the continued operation of Diego Garcia, a strategically significant military installation that is jointly managed with the United States. The deal not only provides for the return of the Chagossian people but also permits Mauritius to resettle the remaining islands, addressing the long-standing displacement issue.
The announcement marks a significant step in a protracted dispute over the status of the Chagos Islands, which were depopulated in the 1960s and 70s to make way for the military base. The UK had previously faced criticism and legal challenges over its continued control of the islands, and this agreement is seen as a response to those pressures.
The Chagossians, who have sought the right to return to their homeland for years, now have a pathway to resettle in the islands, although the specific details and timeline for resettlement remain unclear. The agreement is expected to reshape the relationship between the UK and Mauritius while also addressing historical injustices faced by the Chagossian people.
The military base on Diego Garcia plays a crucial role in regional security and defense operations, making the UK’s retention of operational rights a key aspect of the agreement. The decision reflects a balancing act between honoring the rights of displaced islanders and maintaining strategic military capabilities in the Indian Ocean.
British Foreign Minister David Lammy stated, “This government inherited a situation where the long-term, secure operation of the Diego Garcia military base was under threat due to contested sovereignty and ongoing legal challenges.”
He emphasized that “today’s agreement secures this vital military base for the future, strengthening our role in safeguarding global security. It will also eliminate any possibility of the Indian Ocean being exploited as a dangerous route for illegal migration to the UK, while ensuring a lasting relationship with Mauritius.”
The UK has maintained control over the region since 1814 and separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius in 1965, creating the British Indian Ocean Territory. Mauritius gained independence three years later.
In the early 1970s, nearly 2,000 residents were forcibly removed to Mauritius and the Seychelles to clear the way for an airbase on Diego Garcia, the largest island, which the UK had leased to the US in 1966.
In 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled that the UK should relinquish control of the Chagos Islands, stating that the UK wrongfully forced the local population to leave in the 1970s to accommodate a US air base.
In a joint statement, Britain and Mauritius announced that the political agreement had the backing and assistance of both the US and India.
The statement declared, “The treaty will open a new chapter in our shared history,” marking the beginning of a new era of economic, security, and environmental partnership between the two nations.
Additionally, the UK will provide a financial support package to Mauritius aimed at funding projects that enhance the country’s economic development.
The two nations will also collaborate on various issues, including environmental protection, maritime security, and combating drug and human trafficking.
