Reform UK leader Nigel Farage questioned the UK government’s recent agreement with Mauritius concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, particularly Diego Garcia, during a session in the House of Commons.
Farage challenged the legal basis for the deal, stating: “Mauritius has no legal or historical claim to sovereignty over a group of islands that are 1,300 miles away from it,” and expressed concerns about the potential backlash from the incoming US administration.
“I assure the House, having been in America last week and knowing the incoming US Defence Secretary very well, that there is outright hostility towards this deal,” Farage argued.
He further claimed that the Chagossian community, displaced in the 1960s and 1970s when the UK established a US military base on Diego Garcia, preferred British rule and were not in favour of the transfer to Mauritius.
In response, Stephen Doughty, Minister of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, defended the government’s stance, highlighting the national security imperative behind the agreement. “This Government inherited a situation whereby the long-term secure operation of this crucial military base was under threat,” Doughty said. He explained that international courts had been moving toward recognising Mauritian sovereignty, which could undermine the base’s future security.
“Without legal certainty, the base simply cannot operate effectively. Continued uncertainty would be a gift to our adversaries,” Doughty added.
Farage’s objections focused on what he perceived as a politically motivated deal, warning that it could alienate key allies, particularly the United States. He pointed to US figures, such as the incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz, who had previously voiced opposition to the agreement, and suggested that “Diego Garcia was described to me by a senior Trump adviser as the most important island on the planet for America.”
Doughty, however, disagreed with Farage’s view, reaffirming that the UK’s decision was rooted in ensuring the long-term viability of the base. “In the absence of a negotiated solution, a legally binding decision against the UK seemed inevitable. That would have threatened the secure and effective operation of the base, and that was not sustainable,” he stated, underscoring that the agreement would benefit both the UK’s and US’s national interests.
Doughty also addressed concerns regarding the Chagossian community, promising that Mauritius would now be able to implement a resettlement programme for the Chagossians, and that the UK would provide a new trust fund for their support. “All Chagossians will of course remain eligible for British citizenship and free to make their home in the UK,” he assured.
While the UK government maintains that the agreement secures national security and upholds international law, the exchange highlighted ongoing tensions over the issue of sovereignty and the future of Diego Garcia.
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Surprised he found time to attend parliament
A busy man hath time to spare.
Yeah Diego Garcia will not close as in any conflict with China it is a valuable asset
It will only close if the base sinks into the sea because of global warming or it is no longer needed
And what if the Mauritian government decides to give the base the boot after a word from its friend the PRC? Of course a British government with a backbone would tell them to go do one but we are unlikely to get that anytime soon. I do sympathise with the idea of decolonisation but frankly we’d have been far better off to have resettled the Chagossians.
Slow site again?
Very. ☹️ I’m glad it’s not just my iPad.
Where are my emoji. Vital equipment in my campaign for the silly… I could do with one now!
Yep, me too.
yep same here
I have not been able to get on for days
If the UK government wanted rid of this problem, they could have sold the territory to the USA. After that it’s no longer a UK problem. If they are really serious about the Chagosian Islanders then they could have spent the money they are going to give to Mauritius on developing one of the islands further away fro Diego Garcia as a viable home for them.
No they can’t just sell an island to another country.
The original terms always had the island being handed back to Mauritius once it was no longer required.
There is a reason the US wanted us to acquire the island and didnt just buy an island themselves. It’s a major violation of international law and it won’t be internationally recognised for one country to buy a piece of another country.
It’s not the 19th century.
Who says the UK could not transfer an uninhabited territory to another state? Of course they could, particularly if the recipient state is a Great Power.
The norms of the 19th century don’t apply until a Great Power simply decides that they do.
The USA literally bought Alaska from Russia. Yes they can.
Yes in the 19th century. You could buy human beings at the same time as well, things have moved on.
Lets hope the Chinese don’t dredge the marine reserve.
They won’t need to dredge it, but they will put their fishing fleets I and it will be decimated in five years. At present it is I believe the biggest marine reserve in the world, and it will shortly be a desert. So much for the amateurs in Whitehall thinking through the problem.
Yes, figure of speech on my part.
This is why I hope Trump blocks it, and to HELL with international law.
“Diego Garcia was described to me by a senior Trump adviser as the most important island on the planet for America.”
Oh, more important that the UK then? (Hint, Nigel – UK is an island)
But not an important one. The US has a major base in Diego Garcia which helps in countering China and loads of bases in Europe. It could probably get by without us.
Except the massive ballistic missile defence radar in the UK. What’s in Diego Garcia by comparison? Not much
The ICJ judgement upholding Mauritius claim was nonsense, Britain acquired both Mauritius and the Chagos slave plantations from France in 1814. We compensated Mauritius when, on it gaining independence in 1968, we separated the islands to retain Diego Garcia. The only injustice was to the Chagos islanders not to Mauritius. Pathetic decision by this government of useless idiots, mirroring the approach of their equally useless predecessors.
Yeh agreed, Mauritius never actually controlled/settled or ruled the islands, they were grouped together administratively by the brits that is all.
If there was wrongdoing, it was to the chassogans, not Mauritius, the ruling is/was nonsensical. Bowing to the pressure is idiotic.
If anything we should just allow the chassogans to elect a Governer and allow them independant rule like we do the biritsh virgin islands, Gibraltar, isle of man, etc etc.
Obviously resettlement would be limited and difficult regardless, but mauritius has often ignored the chassogans and apparently (unconfirmed) even worked to suppress them by changiung passports
Don’t get why the US would care less, we got a deal for them to keep their base and that all that matters to them. In fact both sides of Congress supported the deal.
Farage is just stiring up rubbish as usual. Have to wonder how him stiring with the US is in the UK best interests though. If it later turns out his a Russian spy it wouldn’t be a surprise, only Russian benefits from a disagreement between the US and UK
I do not think he is an agent as the CIA and MI6 use the term. He may well be an asset just like Trump. A useful idiot they wish well and support.
Who knows, his got a lot of hidden money coming in that he was worried about getting uncovered.
Most likely just offshore business assets and stuff like that but could easily be Russian money.
Unless you have proof of such accusations you really shouldn’t be posting such stuff on a public forum!
It’s not accusations the hidden money is fully declared and the election commission questioned it. Where that money is coming from is however unknown, all we know is it’s coming from offshore funds with unknown ownership interests.
OK. I will just read the Telegraph instead.
Well said.
Here speaks a man of true understanding!
These clowns will cause no end of harm over the next 4 years
You think there is spare defence money for paying rent ?
There was a cost of having the islands, so I suspect this will be less, either way I’m sure it can be recharged to the US since it’s their base not ours.
Also what is the rent, I haven’t read anything about there being a cost behind the lease.
The US Congress has never voted on this agreement since it doesn’t come under its purview. Biden supported it but we don’t know if he was compos mentis at the time. There is little question that there will be Congressional hearings on the effect of this agreement on US national defense and there is little doubt that it will not be supported by the incoming Congress.
The agreement was announced when Washington and the country’s attention was focused on the elections. It will now start to be scrutinized. This is not going away.
It’s gone away, the US isn’t interested, as it has no impact on them. It’s only farage that is stiring.
Either way who cares what the US thinks, it’s a uk decision and both major parties supported it.
😂do you really think that Labour MPs won’t upset the US in someway in the future? They won’t be able to keep their gobs shut!
I mean Boris was the one stating trump was totally unsuitable for office when he was major of London and it’s on camera. Why do you think Labour is any more likely?
Farage bringing it up is clearly against the interests of the UK, and isn’t helping his own party, same with him bringing up historic comments against trump. Would love to hear the logic of a uk polictican acting against the interest of the uk and its people is a positive in the slightest.
Not disagreeing with you but given that Labour are now the party of govt and given their track record on trump it won’t be long before someone says something or other to upset trump it’s in their dna.
As to accusations the way things are going at the moment it seems you can have a knock on the door because a ‘victim’ is upset by something you tweeted or posted wherever!
I don’t think it’s a major problem, if it did happen. The US does what is in its own interests, it’s never about personal relationships. Plus key players are all that matters and they are sensible enough to keep their personal feelings to themselves whilst his in power. Backbenchers mean nothing outside the UK.
Great we paid Mauritius shed loads when we kept it so they’d look after the Chagossians and now we’re paying again to give it back, it’s lucky the British tax payer is an endless font of money…
As the former islanders were not consulted there is no defence of this policy , it would be like giving the isle of wight to France which is a lot closer than Mauritius. Perhaps St Helena will be given to South Africa next ?
Don’t rule it out
Does anyone seriously think Donald Trump even knows what Diego Garcia is much less give two shits about a leasing agreement.
This is made up by Farage.
So are you saying the decision was right then? At least he is asking the question about it!
Yes I am saying the decision is right as there is no practical alternative unless you wish to put a sign up in the Indian Ocean saying this way for all Refugees looking to enter the UK.
Now we have a 198 year lease with no immigration problem, ticked the international law box and the Chagosians are happily living in Surrey.
I hope, when the time comes to build infrastructure where you live, that you are perfectly happy to move somewhere else.
If British Citizens have no claim on their original home (for the Chagos Islanders are indeed that now), then no one deserves the right to live permanently anywhere in Britain. No more compensating people for views ruined by HS2. If a village is in the way, move it.
If that is the principle, let’s live by it and get the infrastructure this country needs built.
If the islands are their original home (which it’s not as they are not indigenous) then by definition they are not British citizens. People were leaving the islands on mass long before the base and in many ways it’s a similar situation to st kilda. It’s very difficult for people to survive on small distant islands and it’s often not to their benefit and certainly not to the children’s benefit to stay on them. Also the British government is entitled to move me off my land at any time via the compulsory purchase system if it requires my land for… Read more »
This is not an issue made up by Farage. It’s an issue that is of deep concern to Republicans. You may not like it but Republicans will control both houses of Congress starting January 3, 2025, and the Presidency on January 20th 2025.The agreement won’t be in effect when those two events happen.
Not sure many in here really get why the British government is giving up sovereignty in exchange for a lease.
It’s no coincidence that the government started negotiating about the same time refugees started showing up on the island.
Having a little bit of British territory between Asia and Africa was inviting a flood of refugees.
Now anyone coming to the island claiming asylum will have to claim in Mauritius.
Britain has a 198 year lease now that solves alot of issue.
This deal was rotten from the start and keeps getting worse….. Mauritius has no historic claim to the islands. International opinion doesn’t change the fact that the BIOT was administered by the UK via Mauritius when it was a Crown Colony and then purchased from the newly independent state. We all know that if another country tried to bully some islands off of the French they’d have the balls to tell them to f*ck off! If we want the Chagossian’s to be able to move back to one of the islands why on earth can’t the UK help with the… Read more »
Is there even “international opinion”?
Yes, fully supported by every member at the UN except the UK and USA.
farage is correct
i suspect that’s why freegear went to the cop summit, he’s to afraid to leave lammy on his own now
It would be interesting to find out how long before the election Starmer thought about this. It’s not a decision you make over night.
The government……deaf, blind and dumb!!!
DG was my first proper Jolly after a brief stop over in Singapore. It’s even more spectacular than it looks in photographs.
the bottom line is lammy was let out alone without a minder
“UK Government defends Chagos sovereignty agreement” How can you defend the indefensible.
Extraordinarily the Mauritius have rejected the proposed treaty, they want more concessions from the UK government. Apparently being handed for free islands with an maritime economic zone equivalent in size to the UK, that are 1300 miles away and which have never belonged to the Mauritius is not enough! Unfortunately they are probably right, Starmer is so desperate to sweeten the Chinese (who are expected to lease the islands from the Mauritius) that he probably pay the Mauritius to take them, and also agree to boot the US Navy out of its key strategic base – which was expected to… Read more »