UK transfers sovereignty of Chagos islands to Mauritius amidst military, diplomatic developments

The United Kingdom has agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a move that secures the future of the strategic US military base at Diego Garcia while enabling the return of islanders displaced for nearly five decades.

This landmark agreement, announced jointly by the UK and Mauritius on Thursday, guarantees full sovereignty over the remote archipelago to Mauritius, alongside the continuation of US military operations for the next 99 years.

“This government inherited a situation where the long-term, secure operation of the Diego Garcia military base was under threat, with contested sovereignty and ongoing legal challenges,” stated British Foreign Minister David Lammy. “Today’s agreement secures this vital military base for the future. It will strengthen our role in safeguarding global security, shut down any possibility of the Indian Ocean being used as a dangerous illegal migration route to the UK, as well as guaranteeing our long-term relationship with Mauritius.”

The Chagos Islands have been under UK control since 1814. In 1965, the UK detached the islands from Mauritius—then a colony—to establish the British Indian Ocean Territory. This decision paved the way for the eviction of approximately 1,500 residents in the early 1970s to facilitate the establishment of a US airbase on Diego Garcia, which had been leased to the US in 1966. The UK controversially categorized the Chagossians as “transient workers” to sidestep international legal obligations.

The tide began to turn in favor of Mauritius with a 2019 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which determined that the UK had unlawfully forced the population to vacate the islands for the US military base. Subsequent UN resolutions urged the UK to relinquish control. However, negotiations faltered amid concerns from the previous UK government that Mauritius might grant China access to the territory.

Critics of the UK government’s stance argue that non-compliance with the ICJ ruling has undermined the UK’s standing in the international community, showcasing a disregard for a rules-based order. The recent agreement allows Mauritius to pursue a resettlement program on the islands, with the UK committing to establish a trust fund and provide support for the Chagossian community, which currently numbers around 10,000 individuals scattered across Mauritius, the Seychelles, and the UK.

Nevertheless, some Chagossians contest Mauritius’s sovereignty and advocate for self-determination as indigenous people. Chagossian Voices, a community organization in the UK, criticized the lack of consultation regarding the transfer. “Chagossian Voices deplore the exclusion of the Chagossian community from the negotiations which have produced this statement of intent concerning the sovereignty of our homeland,” the group stated on Thursday. “Chagossians learned this outcome from the media and remain powerless and voiceless in determining our own future and the future of our homeland.”

As part of the agreement, the UK will provide Mauritius with a financial support package to foster economic development and collaborate on issues such as environmental protection and maritime security. The deal also received backing from the US and India, with US President Joe Biden heralding it as a “historic agreement.” He remarked, “It is a clear demonstration that through diplomacy and partnership, countries can overcome longstanding historical challenges to reach peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes.”

The significance of Diego Garcia, often referred to as the “Footprint of Freedom” for its strategic location, extends beyond military operations. It played a crucial role in US overseas actions post-9/11, including operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Controversially, allegations of rendition flights landing on the island have emerged, though the US has long denied these claims, while the UK government acknowledged them in 2008.

As this new chapter unfolds, the agreement between the UK and Mauritius signifies a turning point not only for the displaced Chagossians but also for international relations in the Indian Ocean region.