Back in October, the government struck an agreement with Mauritius to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.
The deal includes the tropical atoll Diego Garcia used by the US and UK as a military base, although the UK will continue to use it for “an initial period of 99 years”.
What are the Chagos Islands?
The Chagos Islands is a group of seven atolls in the Indian Ocean, comprising over 60 Islands.
Mauritius has long argued that it was illegally forced to give up the islands in return for its own independence in 1968, and had already agreed to lease Diego Garcia to the US to use as a military base.
In recent years, the UK has been facing diplomatic pressure to renounce its claim to the islands, and these negotiations got under way before Sir Keir Starmer became prime minister.
Why was Britain facing pressure?
Chagossians were forced to leave the central Indian Ocean territory by 1973 to make way for the military base.
The expulsions are regarded as one of the most shameful parts of Britain’s modern colonial history and Chagossians have spent decades fighting to return to the islands.
The United Nations’ highest court, the International Court of Justice, previously ruled the UK’s administration of the territory was “unlawful” and must end.
Negotiations to hand them over began in November 2022, under the Conservative government, with James Cleverly as foreign secretary.
Once it was done, a joint statement by the prime ministers of the UK and Mauritius said the deal would “address wrongs of the past”.
The foreign secretary, David Lammy, said it would still secure the “vital” military base and ensure the UK can still play a role “safeguarding global security” in the Indo-Pacific.
What’s the reaction been?
Many Tories reacted with fury, even though the negotiations began under their party’s watch, and Reform’s Nigel Farage wasn’t happy either.
Critics warned the move will empower China.
It was welcomed by US President Joe Biden, who hailed the “historic agreement” as a “clear demonstration that through diplomacy and partnership, countries can overcome long-standing historical challenges to reach peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes”.
But there have been some reports Donald Trump, who will become president in the new year, isn’t as keen.
