Blitz Bureau
IN a historic move, Britain has decided to cede sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius as part of a deal allowing the UK and the US to maintain a strategic military base on the atoll of Diego Garcia. The deal was arrived at after years of negotiations.
The announcement on October 3, made in a joint statement by the UK and Mauritian Prime Ministers, ends decades of often fractious negotiations between the two countries.
India, US welcome
India has welcomed the agreement to resolve the long-standing territorial dispute.The country has consistently supported Mauritius’s claim of sovereignty over Chagos Islands, in line with its “principled stand on decolonisation and support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations”, the India’s External Affairs Ministry said after the UK and Mauritius jointly announced the agreement.
US President Joe Biden welcomed the “historic agreement”, saying it was a “clear demonstration that through diplomacy and partnership, countries can overcome long-standing historical challenges to reach peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes”.
The US-UK base will remain on Diego Garcia – a key factor enabling the deal to go forward at a time of growing geopolitical rivalries in the region between Western countries, India, and China, according to BBC. The deal is still subject to finalisation of a treaty, but both sides have promised to complete it as quickly as possible.
A seminal moment
“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 statement from UK Prime Minister KeirStarmer and Mauritius Prime Minister PravindJugnauth read.
The leaders also said they were committed “to ensure the long-term, secure and effective operation of the existing base on Diego Garcia which plays a vital role in regional and global security”.
The treaty will also “address wrongs of the past and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the welfare of Chagossians”. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the benefits of the deal included closing “a potential illegal migration route”.
The UK will provide a package of financial support to Mauritius, including annual payments and infrastructure investment.Mauritius will also be able to begin a programme of resettlement on the Chagos Islands, but not on Diego Garcia.
