The Chagos Deal

Editorial

A New Chapter or a Missed Opportunity?

The controversy surrounding the Chagos Islands has reignited old debates about sovereignty, geopolitics, and historical justice. This time, however, it is entangled in a web of transatlantic politics, right-wing manoeuvring, and the shadow of US influence. At the heart of the matter is the question: should the United Kingdom proceed with handing over the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, as international law suggests, or yield to domestic and international pressures to delay, if not derail, the deal?

The Chagos Islands have been a focal point of international contention since the 1960s. The excision of the Chagos prior to granting independence to Mauritius and the forcible removal of the Chagossians to make way for a joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia remains a blight on Britain’s colonial legacy. For decades, Mauritius has claimed sovereignty over the islands, a position supported by a 2019 ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ unequivocally declared the UK’s continued administration of the archipelago under the contrived appellation British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), illegal and called for the return the sovereignty of the Chagos sovereignty to Mauritius. That ruling, called for by the UN General Assembly, was a damning indictment of decades of obdurate UK diplomacy.

Both the Tory and the Labour government under Sir Keir Starmer appeared poised to address this historical injustice through negotiations with Mauritius. However, the process has now stalled amidst a coordinated effort by right-wing political figures, including Nigel Farage, Liz Truss, and Suella Braverman, who argue that the deal undermines British interests. Their opposition, bolstered by tacit support from the incoming Trump administration, threatens to overturn years of diplomatic progress. It must be remembered that several Tory figureheads are locked in leadership tussle for the Tory party.

At the core of this dispute lies the Diego Garcia military base, a strategic linchpin for US and UK operations in the Indo-Pacific. Critics of the deal warn that relinquishing what they claim to be British sovereignty over the islands could jeopardize Western security interests and potentially pave the way for Chinese influence in the region. These fears are amplified by what these same critics “Mauritius’ growing economic ties with China”, including a free trade agreement that some interpret as a gateway for Beijing’s ambitions in the Indian Ocean.

Yet, these arguments obscure key facts. The proposed deal includes provisions for the continued operation of the Diego Garcia base under a long-term lease agreement. Far from undermining security, this arrangement could strengthen UK-Mauritius relations while addressing a long-standing grievance. Moreover, fears of Chinese encroachment are nothing less than unfounded, given that Mauritius has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to Western partnerships.

The resistance to the Chagos deal is not just about geopolitics; it also reflects the evolving dynamics of British domestic politics. An open letter opposing the agreement, signed by23 leading figures on the right, including Nigel Farage (along with a number of other Reform MPs), former Tory PM Liz Truss, former Tory home secretary Suella Braverman, and former Reform leader Ben Habib, and published on Wednesday in the British media signals a growing alignment between these factions. As Claire Bullivant, editor of the Conservative Post, noted recently, this episode has “laid the groundwork for potential cooperation” between the two parties.

This alignment is significant, particularly as Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative leadership seeks to regain footing after recent electoral challenges. By opposing the Chagos deal, right-wing politicians in Britain have found a rallying issue to galvanize their base, emphasizing themes of sovereignty, national pride, and economic prudence. Badenoch’s dismissal of the agreement as “a dumb deal” encapsulates this strategy, positioning her party as the guardian of British interests against what she portrays as Labour’s capitulation.Read More… Become a Subscriber

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 17 January 2025