Labour Government Weighs Return of Chagos Islands Amidst Geopolitical Concerns

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The Labour government has indicated the possibility of returning the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a move that could have significant geopolitical implications. The Chagos Islands, which have been under British control since 1814, are strategically located in the Indian Ocean and include Diego Garcia, a vital US military base. Although discussions are ongoing, the government insists it is “too early” to predict the outcome of the sovereignty negotiations.

 

Baroness Chapman, a Foreign Office minister, addressed the issue following a query from Tory peer Lord Kempsell, noting that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with the Mauritian prime minister on July 23. The meeting reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to negotiations over the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago. “It is too early to speculate on timelines or conclusions, but it is the Government’s priority to resolve this long-standing and important issue, including ensuring the long-term secure and effective operation of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia,” Chapman stated.

 

However, the possibility of ceding control of the islands has prompted warnings from some political figures. Former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps expressed concerns about the broader implications of such a decision, particularly in relation to the UK’s global military footprint. “It’s extraordinarily important to understand that in the discussions over the Chagos Islands, we are also discussing the wider sovereignty of our global military footprint. These decisions cannot and must not be taken lightly,” Shapps told The Telegraph. Lord Kempsell echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the sovereignty of the islands remains a “sensitive and important issue.”

 

The potential handover of the Chagos Islands has also reignited debates over the UK’s foreign policy stance towards China. In a previous parliamentary question, Labour refused to declare China a “threat,” a departure from the stance taken by the previous Conservative government. This shift has raised concerns among some who see Mauritius’s alliance with China as a complicating factor in the negotiations.

 

The issue of Chagos sovereignty has been contentious for decades. In 2019, Mauritius won a non-binding International Court of Justice ruling that declared Britain’s ownership of the islands unlawful. The United Nations General Assembly later voted by a significant majority for the islands to be returned “as rapidly as possible.” Despite these rulings, the UK has maintained control of the islands, with the Foreign Office previously working on a “Cyprus-style” deal that would allow Mauritius to assume sovereignty while Britain retained control of the military base.

 

Diego Garcia, in particular, holds significant strategic importance. The US has used the base extensively, including for bombing missions in Afghanistan and Iraq following the 9/11 attacks, and as a logistical hub for military operations in the Middle East. The possibility of ceding control of such a critical asset has drawn scrutiny from both British and American officials.

 

As negotiations continue, the Labour government faces the challenge of balancing historical grievances, international legal pressures, and the strategic interests of its allies. The outcome of these talks will not only determine the future of the Chagos Islands but also set a precedent for how the UK handles similar disputes in the future.

 

Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-09-02

 

 

 

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[mfd101]

The left-over scraps of empire. But also a major military base.

 

Oh dear!

[herfiehandbag]

The islands will be handed over. The base will be closed. Within 6 months the Chinese will be operating from it.

[impulse]

Then they can start looking for remnants of MH370.

 

 

[retarius]

About time. The dreadful leaders of rules based international order have lost lost in court multiple times and been told to return the island to the Chagossian people. These pillars of virtue and hypocrisy that lead the US and UK, have refused to abide by the court's decision, and refused to hand the islands back to its rightful owners.  

[Purdey]

They can return the islands and pay rent for the military base I suppose. 

If they were to leave completely, how long before the locals begged for financial help?

[youreavinalaff]

The simple answer is a self determination vote.

 

Let the people of Chagos Islands decide for themselves.

[John Drake]

58 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

The simple answer is a self determination vote.

 

Let the people of Chagos Islands decide for themselves.

 

According to Wiki, the population is 3000, with close to 96 percent either British or American. Another 1000 were indigenous who were deported in the early 70s. Many of them will have died since then. Seems obvious that any vote will be for continued British control. So, give'em the vote.

[billd766]

5 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

The islands will be handed over. The base will be closed. Within 6 months the Chinese will be operating from it.

And you won't get rid of the Chinese easily.

[billd766]

3 hours ago, Purdey said:

They can return the islands and pay rent for the military base I suppose. 

If they were to leave completely, how long before the locals begged for financial help?

The Chinese would willingly help with financial assistance, until the locals can't pay the bill. Ask Sri Lanka what happens when they default on the loan.

[Purdey]

3 minutes ago, billd766 said:

The Chinese would willingly help with financial assistance, until the locals can't pay the bill. Ask Sri Lanka what happens when they default on the loan.

Isn't that the fault of the government that signed the agreements? What would happen if they failed to repay was in black and white.

[billd766]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Isn't that the fault of the government that signed the agreements? What would happen if they failed to repay was in black and white.

https://www.cfr.org/blog/china-has-become-major-source-sovereign-default-risk#:~:text=Though China began scaling back,Lanka%2C Ghana%2C and Zambia.

 

Though China began scaling back its lending in 2020, it remains the most critical creditor in international negotiations to stabilize the over-indebted nations of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Ghana, and Zambia.

 

Increasingly, those politics involve China, whose massive Belt and Road lending initiative, launched in 2013, boosted its position as the dominant creditor to low-income countries—as shown in the right-hand figure above. 

 

Does that ring a bell for the HST in Thailand.

 

There is more information in the link.

 

How about this link?

 

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/these-countries-owe-the-most-debt-to-china-is-your-one-of-them/articleshow/112874819.cms?from=mdr

 

There are 14 countries (see the link for details) who are in debt to China for varying amounts mostly for the Belt and Road program.

 

Are all of the countries at fault for the same reason?