International UK agrees to give Mauritius the Chagos Islands

[650lb Sumo]

Spoiler: Link

UK to hand over sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius after decades-long dispute

Mauritius and the UK have been in dispute over the Indian Ocean islands for the past 50 years. The deal includes ensuring the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, home to a strategically key military base, remains under US and UK jurisdiction for the next 99 years.

news.sky.com

Diego Garcia is currently the only inhabited island of the Chagos archipelago, but only US military employees are allowed.

The UK will hand over sovereignty of the remote Chagos Islands to Mauritius after a decades-long dispute.

The deal to transfer the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius includes the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, home to a military base used by the UK and the US that plays a crucial role in the region's stability and international security.

Under the agreement, the base will remain under UK and US jurisdiction for at least the next 99 years.

The UK government said that the treaty would 'address wrongs of the past and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the welfare' of Chagossians - the native people of the islands. [The first people arrived on the Chagos Islands in 1793.]

US President Joe Biden welcomed the move, saying it was 'mutually beneficial'.

Joe Biden

Several leading Conservatives have called the decision 'weak', with former securities minister Tom Tugendhat

saying it is a "shameful retreat undermining our security and leaving our allies exposed".

Concerns have been raised a future Mauritian government will not adhere to the agreement and will allow China, which is heavily invested in Mauritius, to take over the base.

Since 1971 only Diego Garcia has been allowed inhabitants - US military employees - after the UK expelled the Chagossians at the request of the US. Some moved to Mauritius and some have lived in the UK, in Crawley, West Sussex, since 2002.

Mauritius has been trying to claim the Chagos Islands back from the UK since the French handed them over in 1845.

The UK will also provide a 'package of financial support' to Mauritius, including annual payments for the next 99 years, and will provide funding for an infrastructure partnership.

The Falklands and Gibraltar are next, presumably. Seems this Labour government, the first for 14 years, isn't planning on reelection, so they are determined to do as much damage as possible in the ~5 years they have.

Edit: Update
Update Two

 

[curryjunkie]

You don't think this decision was made in the 4 months since labour came in do you? That's not how decisions like this are made, and they have a 99 year lease on the military base, nothing china can do about that. Tugenhat is talking out his arse because he wants to appeal to the right wing nutters who are choosing a new Tory leader. Even he knows the bullshit he spews is bullshit. And the Falklands are going nowhere, too much oil involved.

 

[Croo67]

Once Germany bans AfD, Starmer will move to follow suit here.

He's openly talking about plans for the next 10 years.

 

[AWilder]

The story of GB removing the inhabitants at America's request is pretty fucked up.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Spoiler: Link

UK to hand over sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius after decades-long dispute

Mauritius and the UK have been in dispute over the Indian Ocean islands for the past 50 years. The deal includes ensuring the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, home to a strategically key military base, remains under US and UK jurisdiction for the next 99 years.

news.sky.com

Diego Garcia is currently the only inhabited island of the Chagos archipelago, but only US military employees are allowed.

The UK will hand over sovereignty of the remote Chagos Islands to Mauritius after a decades-long dispute.

The deal to transfer the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius includes the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, home to a military base used by the UK and the US that plays a crucial role in the region's stability and international security.

Under the agreement, the base will remain under UK and US jurisdiction for at least the next 99 years.

The UK government said that the treaty would 'address wrongs of the past and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the welfare' of Chagossians - the native people of the islands. [The first people arrived on the Chagos Islands in 1793.]

US President Joe Biden welcomed the move, saying it was 'mutually beneficial'.

Joe Biden

Several leading Conservatives have called the decision 'weak', with former securities minister Tom Tugendhat

saying it is a "shameful retreat undermining our security and leaving our allies exposed".

Concerns have been raised a future Mauritian government will not adhere to the agreement and will allow China, which is heavily invested in Mauritius, to take over the base.

Since 1971 only Diego Garcia has been allowed inhabitants - US military employees - after the UK expelled the Chagossians at the request of the US. Some moved to Mauritius and some have lived in the UK, in Crawley, West Sussex, since 2002.

Mauritius has been trying to claim the Chagos Islands back from the UK since the French handed them over in 1845.

The UK will also provide a 'package of financial support' to Mauritius, including annual payments for the next 99 years, and will provide funding for an infrastructure partnership.

The Falklands and Gibraltar are next, presumably. Seems this Labour government, the first for 14 years, isn't planning on reelection, so they are determined to do as much damage as possible in the ~5 years they have.

Gibraltar and the Falklands which are inhabited by people who consider themselves British is a bit different to giving away some uninhabited islands.

 

[650lb Sumo]

Update:

Spoiler: Link

Politics latest news: Starmer told to make ‘guarantee’ over British overseas territories

Sir Keir Starmer must “immediately guarantee” that the Government will not hand over any other British overseas territories, a Reform UK MP has said.

www.telegraph.co.uk

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to say whether he would sign away other British overseas territories, after handing the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The archipelago was British-owned from 1814, but was signed away by the Government in a deal that it claimed would safeguard global security by ending a long-running dispute.

The islands include Diego Garcia, which hosts a strategically important US-UK military base.

The Prime Minister was asked to guarantee that under Labour no other British overseas territories will be signed away.

He told reporters in response: “The single most important thing was ensuring that we had a secure base, the joint US-UK base; hugely important to the US, hugely important to us. We’ve now secured that and that is why you saw such warm words from the US yesterday.”

A spokesman for No10 told GB News: “Chagos does not change our policy or approach to other overseas territories.”

His remarks came just hours after Argentina pledged to gain 'full sovereignty' of the Falkland Islands in the wake of the Chagos deal.

The country’s foreign minister, Diana Mondino, welcomed the step taken by Sir Keir’s Government on Thursday towards ending 'outdated practices'.

She pledged 'concrete action' to ensure that the Falklands – the British territory that Argentina calls the Malvinas and claims as its own – are ceded to Buenos Aires.

@SalvadorAllende any opinion on this?

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Update:

Spoiler: Link

Politics latest news: Starmer told to make ‘guarantee’ over British overseas territories

Sir Keir Starmer must “immediately guarantee” that the Government will not hand over any other British overseas territories, a Reform UK MP has said.

www.telegraph.co.uk

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to say whether he would sign away other British overseas territories, after handing the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The archipelago was British-owned from 1814, but was signed away by the Government in a deal that it claimed would safeguard global security by ending a long-running dispute.

The islands include Diego Garcia, which hosts a strategically important US-UK military base.

The Prime Minister was asked to guarantee that under Labour no other British overseas territories will be signed away.

He told reporters in response: “The single most important thing was ensuring that we had a secure base, the joint US-UK base; hugely important to the US, hugely important to us. We’ve now secured that and that is why you saw such warm words from the US yesterday.”

A spokesman for No10 told GB News: “Chagos does not change our policy or approach to other overseas territories.”

His remarks came just hours after Argentina pledged to gain 'full sovereignty' of the Falkland Islands in the wake of the Chagos deal.

The country’s foreign minister, Diana Mondino, welcomed the step taken by Sir Keir’s Government on Thursday towards ending 'outdated practices'.

She pledged 'concrete action' to ensure that the Falklands – the British territory that Argentina calls the Malvinas and claims as its own – are ceded to Buenos Aires.

@SalvadorAllende any opinion on this?

Honestly I could not care less. We have a fucking giant country full of problems to deal with.. two small islands won't make a difference.
It would be cool to have them but nobody expect them Argentina to get them.

 

[Brigfa2]

Pussies

 

[650lb Sumo]

Update Two

Spoiler: Link

Keir Starmer to face crunch vote on 'appalling' Chagos Islands decision

The Prime Minister will require an Act of Parliament to sign over the strategically important Chagos Islands over to Mauritius.

www.express.co.uk

Sir Keir Starmer will face a Parliamentary vote over his decision to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.

The Prime Minister will require an Act of Parliament to sign over the strategically important islands to Mauritius.

A Government minister on Saturday was forced to issue a statement on the territories after the Prime Minister on Friday did not rule out signing them away.

Fears are intensifying Chinese intelligence agencies could exploit Beijing’s relationship with the Mauritians to use the surrounding islands to monitor the base and British and American assets.

Or they could even build their own military bases, ministers have been warned.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage

will on Monday demand an urgent question in Parliament, forcing ministers to address concerns about the 'appalling' decision.

Mr Farage wrote to David Lammy on Saturday to demand that a vote take place 'at the earliest opportunity', saying the way that the decision had been made meant MPs 'from all parties remain in the dark about so many aspects of this decision'.

Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick

wrote in The Telegraph: 'Labour’s decision places their ideology ahead of Britain’s national interests. It’s an act of extraordinary national self-harm. And they’ve snuck out their betrayal while Parliament isn’t sitting, to avoid scrutiny.'

Mark Francois, the former Armed Forces minister,

added: “It’s appalling how Labour have deliberately announced their abject surrender over the Chagos Islands during a Parliamentary recess.” He added: “This is even more pressing, before Argentina ups its rhetoric over the Falklands or Spain does over Gibraltar – we now need both of those other claims categorically refuted, on the floor of the House, early next week.”

 

[Zankou]

‘Native Chagosians’? That’s like calling English colonists ‘Native Americans.’

 

[Fox by the Sea]

And thus the sun will soon finally set over the british empire.

 

[TheMaster]

Update Two

Spoiler: Link

Keir Starmer to face crunch vote on 'appalling' Chagos Islands decision

The Prime Minister will require an Act of Parliament to sign over the strategically important Chagos Islands over to Mauritius.

www.express.co.uk

Sir Keir Starmer will face a Parliamentary vote over his decision to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.

The Prime Minister will require an Act of Parliament to sign over the strategically important islands to Mauritius.

A Government minister on Saturday was forced to issue a statement on the territories after the Prime Minister on Friday did not rule out signing them away.

Fears are intensifying Chinese intelligence agencies could exploit Beijing’s relationship with the Mauritians to use the surrounding islands to monitor the base and British and American assets.

Or they could even build their own military bases, ministers have been warned.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage

will on Monday demand an urgent question in Parliament, forcing ministers to address concerns about the 'appalling' decision.

Mr Farage wrote to David Lammy on Saturday to demand that a vote take place 'at the earliest opportunity', saying the way that the decision had been made meant MPs 'from all parties remain in the dark about so many aspects of this decision'.

Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick

wrote in The Telegraph: 'Labour’s decision places their ideology ahead of Britain’s national interests. It’s an act of extraordinary national self-harm. And they’ve snuck out their betrayal while Parliament isn’t sitting, to avoid scrutiny.'

Mark Francois, the former Armed Forces minister,

added: “It’s appalling how Labour have deliberately announced their abject surrender over the Chagos Islands during a Parliamentary recess.” He added: “This is even more pressing, before Argentina ups its rhetoric over the Falklands or Spain does over Gibraltar – we now need both of those other claims categorically refuted, on the floor of the House, early next week.”

Fuck Argentina and their 'claim' to the Falklands.
1. Falklands are about 400 miles from Argentina coast
2. Argentina is also basically a Spanish and Italian colony, they got no more rights to it than Britain.

If they wanted to give it to some natives that may be a different story...

 

[650lb Sumo]

Fuck Argentina and their 'claim' to the Falklands.
1. Falklands are about 400 miles from Argentina coast
2. Argentina is also basically a Spanish and Italian colony, they got no more rights to it than Britain.

If they wanted to give it to some natives that may be a different story...

About 300 at the nearest points.

Argentina's claim to the Falklands is based on it being a 'successor' to Spain. It's not very good though. They call us pirates but it is they who keep trying to commit robbery.

Spoiler

https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/sovereignty-since-the-ceasefire-the-falklands-40-years-on

The British claim to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands is based on the argument that with the “exception of two months of illegal occupation in 1982”, Britain has “continuously, peacefully and effectively inhabited and administered” the Islands since 1833. It also bases its case on the principle of self-determination, according to which the people of territories such as the Falklands have the right to choose their own future and status. The Argentinian government’s claim is based on Spain’s possessory title and the concept of territorial continuity. However, Britain argues that possessory title is not accepted as a general principle of international law.

The first recorded landing on the Falklands was made in 1690 by the English naval captain John Strong. However, the English did not establish a permanent settlement at that time. In 1764, French colonists established the settlement of Port Louis on East Falkland. The following year, 1765, a British expedition reached West Falkland and took formal possession of it and all neighbouring islands in the name of the British crown. A British settlement was established on West Falkland in 1766. The same year, the French colony was sold to the Spanish, who named it Puerto de la Soledad.

In 1774, the British settlement was withdrawn, but British sovereignty was not abandoned. In 1816, Argentina declared its independence from Spain and asserted its authority over the Falklands as the successor state to Spain. In 1820, Colonel Jewett took formal possession of the islands on behalf of Buenos Aires. The validity of this possession has since been contested, for example by research cited by the Falkland Islands Association. However, Britain had never relinquished its claim to sovereignty over the Islands, and in 1833, sent a warship to Soledad and expelled the remaining Argentinian military personnel. This followed on from an attempt by an Argentine military garrison to establish sovereignty over the Falkland Islands on 6 October 1832.

Like the Chagos Islands, the Falklands were uninhabited when Europeans found them. But the population overwhelmingly want to remain a self-governing British Overseas Territory.

 

[LeonardoBjj]

Lammy defends Chagos deal, saying it saves important UK-US military base​

Foreign secretary says status quo not sustainable as Tory MPs accuse Labour of giving away key asset

Diane Taylor

David Lammy has hailed the decision to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius as a deal to save a strategically important UK-US military base, after accusations from opposition MPs that a key asset was being given away.

The government announced last week that it was going to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending years of bitter dispute over Britain’s last African colony, but the military base on Diego Garcia will remain under UK control.


In a statement to parliament, the foreign secretary said the deal had to be agreed as the status quo was clearly not “sustainable”. Citing US support for the agreement, Lammy told MPs: “It’s critical for our national security. Without security of tenure there will be no base. The deal benefits us, the UK, the US and Mauritius.”

He added: “This is a victory for diplomacy. We saved the base, it has been secured for the long term.”

Lammy said the deal did not signify similar deals that would be in the offing for Gibraltar or the Falklands. “British sovereignty on the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and the sovereign base areas is not up for negotiation,” he said. “The situations are not comparable. This has been acknowledged across our overseas territories.”

Five years ago the international court of justice issued an advisory opinion condemning the UK’s continued control over the Chagos Islands. Lammy said that if the government had not agreed the deal, a binding judgment against the UK seemed inevitable and it would risk losing the base or breaching international law.

Conservative MPs heckled Lammy over the deal on Monday despite the previous government having taken part in 11 rounds of negotiations, the last held just weeks before the general election. Negotiations were initiated in November 2022 and the former foreign secretaries James Cleverly and David Cameron took part.

The shadow foreign secretary, Andrew Mitchell, said that the government “proposes to give away a key military asset”, saying this “gives succour to our enemies in a dangerous world”.

The former immigration minister Robert Jenrick also condemned the deal, saying: “We’ve just handed sovereign British territory to a small island nation which is an ally of China, and we are paying for the privilege, all so the foreign secretary can feel good about himself at his next north London dinner party. In whose interests does he think he serves: those of the global diplomatic elite, or those of the British people and our national interest?”

Lammy said that in return for Mauritius having sovereignty over the islands including Diego Garcia, base operations will remain under UK control into the next century – initially for 99 years with the UK having a right to extend.

The agreement will allow a right of return for Chagossians, whom the UK expelled from their homes in the 1960s and 70s in what has been described as a crime against humanity and one of the most shameful episodes of postwar colonialism. “The manner in which Chagossians were forcibly removed in the 1960s was deeply wrong,” Lammy said.

Asked about the fate of more than 60 Tamil refugees stranded on the island of Diego Garcia for the last three years, Lammy said: “On signing the treaty this is now a matter for Mauritius.”

Yasmine Ahmed, the UK director of Human Rights Watch, which supported a protest by some Chagossians opposed to the deal outside parliament on Monday, said: “Chagossians have a right to be consulted about their homeland but they were not in fact consulted. The government must bring the Chagossians into these negotiations. They cannot negotiate away their responsibility towards the Chagossians.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ds-chagos-islands-deal-saves-uk-military-base

 

[Flower2dPeople]

China will gladly throw billions of dollar worth of projects at Mauritius so they could build a base in Chagos.

 

[Billy no mates]

Seems like the sensible thing to do , give a little to get a 99 year lease and avoid an international vote which would surely go against us .
We still own plenty of other remote archipelagos and barren rocks to build Bond villian bases on .

 

[The Big Yin]

What an idiotic decision...that was announced before even being put before the Lords. This is definitely a 95 IQ government

I thought it would have been difficult to beat the Tories in terms of being a national embarrassment...but Labour has managed it in a matter of weeks. In my 30 years of following British politics, this government is the biggest shower of corrupt incompetent shit.

If anyone wants to know the measure of our foreign ministers intelligence, watch David Lammys mastermind appearance

 

[B0l0joe]

The story of GB removing the inhabitants at America's request is pretty fucked up.

People who talk about the US and the UK having a special bond, particularly since WW2, are clueless. The reality is that the UK is just a lackey for US foreign policy and as a Brit that hurts me to admit it.