Latest politics: Ex-MI6 boss warns of UK ‘bad deal’ to give up Chagos Islands | Politics News

In October, the government signed an agreement with Mauritius on the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.

The agreement also covers the tropical atoll Diego Garcia, used as a military base by the US and UK, although Britain will continue to use it for an “initial period of 99 years”.

What are the Chagos Islands?

The Chagos Islands are a group of seven atolls consisting of more than 60 islands in the Indian Ocean.

Mauritius has long argued that it was illegally forced to give up the islands in exchange for independence in 1968, and has already agreed to lease Diego Garcia to the United States for use as a military base.

In recent years, the UK has faced diplomatic pressure to abandon its claim to the islands, and negotiations began before Sir Keir Starmer became prime minister.

Why was England facing pressure?

The Chagossians were forced to abandon the central Indian Ocean region by 1973 to make room for a military base.

The expulsions are considered one of the most shameful parts of Britain’s modern colonial history, and the Chagossians have fought for decades to return to the islands.

The International Court of Justice, the highest court of the United Nations, had previously ruled that Britain’s rule in the region was “illegal” and should end.

Negotiations to transfer them began in November 2022 under the Conservative government, with James Cleverly as foreign secretary.

In the joint statement made by the prime ministers of the United Kingdom and Mauritius after the completion of the agreement, it was stated that the agreement “will correct the wrongs of the past”.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said this would still ensure the security of the “vital” military base and ensure the UK could still play its role of “protecting global security” in the Indo-Pacific.

What was the reaction?

Many Tories reacted angrily despite the negotiations starting under their party’s auspices, and Reform’s Nigel Farage was not happy either.

Critics warned that the move would empower China.

The agreement was welcomed by US President Joe Biden, who hailed the “historic agreement” as “a clear demonstration that countries can overcome longstanding historical challenges to achieve peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes through diplomacy and partnership.”

However, there are also reports that Donald Trump, who will become president in the new year, is not so willing.

It is thought that the new Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam, had reservations and criticized it before he was elected on 12 November.