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After years of diplomatic talks and international pressure, the UK has announced that it will give up its sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Although the decision has received international praise, some have criticized it, warning that it could embolden other countries claiming sovereignty over British Overseas Territories.
However, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has stated that the British government’s position on the status of other overseas territories, such as Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands, remains unchanged. He emphasized that these territories are “not up for negotiation.”
In a statement to the Commons, Lammy described the deal with Mauritius as a “historic moment” and a “victory for diplomacy.” The agreement will allow the UK and US to continue operating a strategically important military base on one of the islands, Diego Garcia. The deal is expected to be ratified in 2025.
Although the UK has apologized for the forced removal of approximately 1,000 Chagossian islanders in the 1960s, many within the island’s diaspora do not support Mauritius’s territorial claims. Some Chagossians living in the UK have claimed they were not consulted on the recent agreement. In response, a group gathered in Westminster while Lammy gave his statement to the Commons.
Despite critics’ warnings about the potential impact on other disputed territories, Lammy insisted that the particular circumstances of the Chagos Islands are “not comparable” to other territorial disputes. He reiterated that the government remains committed to modern partnerships with its overseas territories based on mutual consent
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