UK Government defends Chagos sovereignty agreement

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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