Amidst a growing political controversy, particularly among conservative leadership candidates, PM Keir Starmer has defended the UK’s decision to relinquish control of the Chagos Islands.
As per UK’s prime minister, the agreement with Mauritius ensures the long-term future of the strategic US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, calling it the “single most important factor.”
However, critics argue that the move could open the door for China to establish a military presence in the Indian Ocean, raising concerns about the security of other British overseas territories.
Meanwhile, Labour’s decision to follow through has caused friction within Cleverly’s leadership campaign. Grant Shapps, Cleverly’s campaign chair and former MP, revealed that as defence secretary, he had blocked the deal.
Taking to X, he said ”I was so concerned about the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands that I prevented the agreement from moving forward. Now, this government has given up our sovereignty over the archipelago, including Diego Garcia, a crucial military asset.”
Former prime minister Boris Johnson also criticized the decision, calling it “crazy” and attributing it to “political correctness.” In an interview with GB News, Johnson argued, “Why are we doing this? It’s a terrible idea geopolitically. The Diego Garcia base has been a cornerstone of the US-UK alliance for decades.”
Interestingly, it was the Conservative Party, under Liz Truss, that first signaled the UK’s openness to negotiate with Mauritius.
As foreign secretary, James Cleverly, now a contender for Conservative leadership, initiated these talks, aiming to finalize them by the end of 2023. Although it was the Labour, who completed the agreement.
Must Read: India Applauds UK-Mauritius Agreement on Chagos Archipelago Sovereignty
