In a historic move, the United Kingdom has agreed to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending decades of dispute over the archipelago. The agreement, however, ensures the continued operation of the strategic military base on Diego Garcia, a key installation jointly run by the UK and the United States.
The deal marks a significant moment for the people of the Chagos Islands, who were displaced over 50 years ago. With the handover, Mauritius will be able to begin resettling the islands, offering a long-awaited homecoming for those who were evicted in the early 1970s to make way for the construction of the military base. At the same time, the UK has secured guarantees that Diego Garcia will remain in use for military purposes, a factor deemed critical for global security.
“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,” noted a UK government statement. The agreement is said to protect this crucial military asset, while also addressing legal and political disputes surrounding the Chagos Islands.
Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands in the Chagos Archipelago, has long been a cornerstone of British and American military operations in the Indian Ocean. The UK detached the islands from Mauritius in 1965, three years before Mauritius gained independence, creating the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). By the early 1970s, nearly 2,000 residents of the Chagos Islands were forcibly removed to Mauritius and Seychelles, making way for the airbase that would be leased to the United States in 1966. The base has since become a critical asset for operations in the region, including those related to global security and anti-terrorism.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), however, ruled in 2019 that the UK should relinquish control of the islands, concluding that the displacement of the population was unlawful and urging their return. The ruling added significant pressure on the UK to resolve the long-standing dispute, which has been a point of contention between the two nations for decades.
Under the new agreement, the UK will provide financial support to Mauritius to aid in the resettlement of the displaced islanders and promote economic development. This assistance will support projects that drive sustainable growth and enhance the local economy, ensuring that the handover goes beyond a political resolution and fosters long-term prosperity.
The agreement is more than just a shift in territorial control; it represents a new phase of cooperation between the UK and Mauritius. The two nations are also expected to collaborate on critical areas such as environmental protection, maritime security, and tackling issues like drug and human trafficking, all while maintaining a shared interest in the strategic significance of the region.
Mauritius and the UK are working closely with both the United States and India, whose support has been essential to the agreement’s success. In a joint statement, the governments of the UK and Mauritius emphasized that the treaty “will open a new chapter in our shared history,” heralding a new era of collaboration in economic, security, and environmental matters.
The transfer of the Chagos Islands represents a pivotal moment in post-colonial relations, correcting a historical wrong while ensuring that strategic military operations vital to global security remain intact. For the displaced islanders, this moment brings long-overdue justice, while for both Mauritius and the UK, it signals the beginning of a renewed partnership built on shared interests.
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