Mauritius Pledges Full Effort to Regain Chagos Islands After UK Transfer Plan Stalls
The government of Mauritius has declared it will "spare no effort" to complete the decolonization of the Chagos Islands, following the UK's decision to shelve legislation that would have handed sovereignty back to Mauritius. This development comes after the United States, under President Donald Trump, failed to provide formal approval for the deal, forcing the British government to abandon the bill in the current parliamentary session.
Diplomatic and Legal Avenues to Be Pursued
Mauritian Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful made the commitment during an Indian Ocean conference, stating his government would seize "any diplomatic or legal avenue" to regain control over the territory. He emphasized that this pursuit is fundamentally "a matter of justice." The comments highlight Mauritius's determination to address what the International Court of Justice ruled in 2019 was the UK's unlawful separation of the islands from Mauritius before granting independence in 1968.
US-UK Relations and Strategic Military Concerns
The collapse of the transfer plan underscores faltering relations between the US and UK, particularly following Trump's criticism of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding the war in Iran. Initially, Trump opposed the Chagos agreement, telling Starmer he was "making a big mistake" by planning to cede sovereignty to Mauritius. Although he later offered qualified support, the US ultimately did not provide the necessary approval by formally exchanging letters to amend a 1966 British-American treaty concerning the islands.
Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos archipelago, hosts a joint US-UK military base that is considered a key strategic asset. A UK government spokesperson reiterated that ensuring the long-term operational security of the base remains the top priority, stating: "We continue to believe the agreement is the best way to protect the long-term future of the base, but we have always said we would only proceed with the deal if it has US support."
Background and Implications of the Shelved Deal
The Chagos Islands, officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, have been under UK control since the 19th century. In the 1960s and 1970s, thousands of Chagossians were forcibly deported to make way for the military base. The shelved transfer plan, originally agreed with the previous US administration under President Joe Biden, would have involved:
- Britain ceding sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius
- A payment of approximately £35 billion to lease the Diego Garcia airbase back for 99 years
- Continued UK and US military use of the strategic facility
Simon McDonald, a former permanent under-secretary at the UK Foreign Office, noted that the government had "no other choice" but to halt the deal given Trump's hostility. He predicted the treaty would "go into the deep freeze for the time being." Consequently, a new Chagos bill is not expected to appear in the king's speech in May, which outlines the government's legislative agenda.
Reactions and Next Steps
Mauritius Attorney General Gavin Glover expressed that the outcome "does not come as a surprise," attributing it to strained relations between Trump and Starmer. He emphasized that Mauritius's position is dependent on Anglo-American relations, stating: "We are dependent on Anglo-American relations ... the US and Britain will have to reach an agreement." Mauritius plans to meet with the British government on April 22 to discuss the Chagos deal further.
Despite the setback, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting denied that the transfer agreement is moribund. He acknowledged a "shift in position in Washington" but maintained that many in the US administration understand and support the objective of securing the Chagos Islands for long-term British and American interests.
