The UK government has struck a deal to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining control of the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base for the next century. The move has drawn the ire of former US President Donald Trump, who has labelled it an act of “great stupidity” and a reason behind his desire to acquire Greenland.
The deal, which was publicly welcomed by the US, Australia and other key allies, will see the UK granted a 99-year lease on the Diego Garcia base in return for an annual fee of £101 million. This is estimated to cost the British taxpayer a total of £3.4 billion over the lifetime of the agreement.
The Chagos Islands, which are currently governed by the UK as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), have been a point of contention for decades. In 1965, the islands were detached from Mauritius for joint defence purposes, leading to the forced removal of the native Chagossian population.
The International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion in 2019 stating that the UK had an “obligation” to return the islands to Mauritius, though this was not a legally binding judgment. The previous Conservative government disagreed with the ruling, but Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has taken a different approach, striking a deal to hand over sovereignty while retaining control of the Diego Garcia base.
Starmer has defended the agreement, stating that it is “absolutely vital” for the “safety and security of the British people.” The government argues that the deal will guarantee the long-term operation of the base, which is seen as a crucial strategic asset, and prevent future legal challenges that could undermine the UK’s ability to use it.
Trump’s criticism of the deal appears to mark a shift in his previous stance. During a visit to the White House in February 2022, he had told Starmer that he was “inclined to go with your country” on the Chagos issue and that he had “a feeling it’s going to work out very well.”
The government has dismissed Trump’s comments, stating that the UK will “never compromise on our national security” and that the deal has been welcomed by the US and other key allies, including India, Japan and South Korea.
