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Starmer, Keir

UK Hands Control of Chagos Islands to Mauritius in Billions of Dollars Deal

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The UK government has transferred the control of the strategically significant Chagos Islands to Mauritius, marking the end of British colonial rule on the continent. The move, which has been met with criticism from both the UK and the US, involves the UK paying £101 million a year for a total of £3.4 billion to maintain control of the US-UK Diego Garcia military base. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has framed the move as a solution to a colonial-era arrangement that had posed an ethical and legal dilemma, but critics have raised concerns about the implications for national security.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK has transferred control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending British colonial rule on the continent.
  • The deal involves the UK paying £101 million a year for a total of £3.4 billion to maintain control of the US-UK Diego Garcia military base.
  • The move has been met with criticism from both the UK and the US, with concerns raised about the implications for national security.
  • Prime Minister Keir Starmer has framed the move as a solution to a colonial-era arrangement that had posed an ethical and legal dilemma.
  • The Chagossian community has been displaced since 1965, and the deal has been criticized for not consulting with the community about the future of the islands.
  • The secretive Diego Garcia military base is important to Washington's interests, giving it a significant military presence in the Indian Ocean.

Statistics:

  • £101 million: The annual payment made by the UK to Mauritius as part of the deal.
  • £3.4 billion: The total cost of the deal over 34 years.
  • 1814: The year the UK first gained control of the Chagos Islands.
  • 1965: The year the UK split the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, before inevitably becoming independent.
  • 2,000: The number of residents displaced from the Chagos Islands by the UK in 1965.
  • 2019: The year the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the UK should return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Sources:

  • CNN article by Rob Picheta, citing the UK government's press release.
  • PA Media report on the High Court hearing, quoting Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe.
  • "Joint Press Release on the Proposed Transfer of Certain Functions and Responsibilities from the UK to the Government of Mauritius," UK government website.
  • "Chagos Islands: Where is Britain's last colony in Africa?" BBC article by Wendy Metcalfe.
  • "UK's control of Chagos Islands could be over soon," The Guardian article by Patrick Wintour.

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