UK and Mauritius Sign Treaty on Chagos Islands, Sparking Controversy

Strategic Insights -

The signing of the Chagos Islands treaty between the UK and Mauritius has sparked renewed controversy over the UK's military base on the Diego Garcia island. The treaty, which will almost certainly be implemented in the coming weeks, has been criticized by some as a betrayal of British interests and a threat to national security. However, proponents argue that it is a necessary step to resolve the long-standing dispute over the ownership of the islands and to avoid further international law implications.

Key Takeaways:

  • The treaty settles the status of the Chagos Islands, including the base on Diego Garcia, for at least a century, making the area safe from further action under international law.
  • The UK is not giving the Chagos Islands "away", but "back" to their rightful owner, Mauritius, as part of the original conditions for granting independence to the rest of the territories.
  • The ownership of the islands is under dispute, and multiple UN and International Court rulings have said they belong to Mauritius, with more adverse decisions likely on the way.
  • The UK relies on a UN agency in Geneva to maintain access to a particular electromagnetic spectrum for its satellite communications on Diego Garcia, and failure to comply with International Convention of the Law of the Sea could jeopardize this access.
  • The UK will pay the lease for the base, with no US contribution, at a cost of £101m a year, plus additional development aid for Mauritius.
  • The deal has sparked opposition from some Chagossians, who were deported from the islands during decolonisation and have failed in their legal actions to prevent the treaty.
  • The treaty is expected to be ratified by the UK Parliament, but opposition parties will put up a fight, with some arguing that it weakens British national security and proves Labour's leadership is unpatriotic.

Statistics:

  • The UK plans to pay £101m a year for the lease of the base.
  • The treaty settles the status of the Chagos Islands for at least a century.
  • 1965: The Chagos Islands were carved out of the old Mauritius crown colony.
  • 1968: The Mauritius Independence Act was passed.

Sources:

  • Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010
  • Mauritius Independence Act 1968
  • PA News Agency
  • Royal Prerogative
  • UN Convention of the Law of the Sea